Milky Slug

As all other Deroceras it has a short keel at the back of the body. Deroceras reticulatum is very variable in colour, creamy or light coffee cream, rarely blackish spotted (slugs with spots may appear blackish). Behind the mantle there is the dark spots form a reticulate pattern. The skin is thick. Mucus is colourless, on irritation milky white. The slug cannot be distinguished from many other Deroceras species based only on its external appearance. This slug can be up to 40–60 mm long (preserved 25–30 mm). The size varies according to the habitat. Reproductive system: Penis is fleshy and with a silky sheen, in the shape of an irregular sac, in fully mature specimens divided into 2 parts by a deep lateral constriction. Penial gland has very variable shape, usually a few branches or a single long branch. Stimulator is large, conical and narrow. Retractor of the penis is inserted laterally. Vas deferens opens into penis wall facing the external body side. Rectal caecum is large. This slug can travel up to 40 feet (12.2 m) in one night.

Deroceras reticulatum is native to Europe, North Africa and the Atlantic Islands. It occurs widely in Europe, but is more rare and restricted to cultivated fields in the southeast, particularly in the Balkans, and is probably absent from Greece and the Bulgarian mountains. In the north and central European lowlands, Great Britain, and Ireland, it is probably the most widely occurring slug. In northern Scandinavia it is scarce, and is mainly found as a synanthrope. This species occurs in countries and islands including:

Great Britain Ireland Austria Spain Bulgaria Czech Republic – least concern (LC) Netherlands Poland Slovakia Sweden Latvia Ukraine The species has been widely introduced as a synanthrope to many regions:

North America, in parts of Northern Michigan and Southern Michigan as well as Kentucky Canada Colombia Peru Argentina – major slug pest in Buenos Aires province Saint Helena Tasmania New Zealand central Asia

This species is omnivorous, feeding mainly on fresh leaves and fruits or seedings. Deroceras reticulatum is a serious pest of agricultural crops, garden cultivations and horticulture. After several years with continuous moist weather conditions abundance can seriously increase.