Leopard Slug - Limax maximus (PRE-SQUISH)
The first Leopard Slug was oozing its way through the dead grass in the yard this morning when I caught sight of it. I had to hold of my oldest from grabbing it before I could get shots but fortunately he wasn't too keen on handling it. I grabbed my camera and got a number of okay shots but these 4 were the best by far.
Not long after this image was taken a large rock fell from the sky and ended the Leopard Slug's journey in a rapid manner. SPLAT #1!
As I walked back towards the house I found this Leopard Slug making its way across the fir needles and dead grass. It ended up in and out of the shadows but I was still ale to get some okay shots.
In a similar fashion to the first Leopard Slug the second happened upon a large falling rock. It didn't know what hit it. SPLAT #2!
Slugs are a forever problem in gardens. They always seem to find a way back in after eradication or eradication attempts. With a life span of 3 years they can do some major damage to plants over multiple seasons. That's why every single slug I find meets a quick end under the nearest large object.
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Oh... I did don't expect those rocks falling out of nowhere :p
Those are really pretty slugs! Never saw one here...
And I know they are nasty nasty pests, I wouldn't have the heart eliminate it...
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I was a bit far away from the chicken yard so these 2 got ended up with a Wiley Coyote-esque ending. Normally they get a nice flight into the chickens before meeting their end.
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Hahah Adventurous slugs :p
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Ever try using a baited trap using stale beer to catch the "little" creatures! Salt works too but I like your method, falling rocks...splat!
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What pray tell is this "Stale Beer" you speak of??
I am planning on showing my kids the salt trick, but probably next year once he is a bit older.
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You get that from the local bars when they clean up after drunks who fall off their stools...lol
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HAH! Bar mop water as slug bait.
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Great photos. I had no idea they lived three years. I have problem slugs as well, but mine look different, no patterning. I find them on the walls of my house sometimes, besides in the garden. I throw them to my chickens when I spot them.
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This is the Rufuos Slug that is around this area and we also have Banana slugs. I like to throw them to my chickens as well. Many times the slug goes for a flight from wherever I am standing into the chickens.
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Oh wow, I've never seen one like that. Too bad some of the prettiest creatures cause such havoc. (Picturing flying slugs, haha.)
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What beautiful markings! My favorite slug is the banana slug, but this is now a close second!
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They are an amazing looking creature. As horrible as they are for the garden they are striking. I posted a couple weeks ago about the Rufuos Slug that I found in the forest. I know we have Banana slugs as well I just don't remember seeing any recently.
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Oh yes, I've seen that type of slug around! Now I know what to call it! I don't have a garden to protect, so I'm able to let these guys munch on whatever.
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I leave alone the ones that are not in close proximity to my garden. I like finding them in the forest roaming the mosses. Creates a killer backdrop for pictures.
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I actually love there. When they are small they do a lot of damage in the garden, but when they grow up they're my favorite slow puppies! <3
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It's wild just how slow a slug is. The little ones are harder by their very nature to find, specially since I have black plastic mulch over my entire garden. Gives them a lot of places to hide, essentially everywhere under the plastic.
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Oooh why the plastic? I think we all just need ducks, they would take care of the problem :)
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I use plastic as my mulch. I cover the entire garden since I run drip lines so the weeds are kept at bay and the soil heats up earlier and stays later in the season. It also helps to keep produce from getting dirty by keeping it off the soil and not allowing dirt to splash when it rains. A couple of my food safety measures I take to keep my produce clean and safe.
Ducks are good buggers but I think Guinea hens are the best, I just hate their digital sounding scream.
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The food safety is a problem mostly because animal manure is included. People often overlook the consequences of the design. Certainly, it is not sustainable to throw away hundreds or thousands of square meters of plastic mulch every year. I love straw, for me it's easiest to work with of all mulches! :)
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There are now bio degradable plastic mulches. I just got an email about a demo near Spokane next month where they will be showing them off. I reuse my plastic year after year and get about 4 years out of 4mil black plastic.
It is quite interesting the various mulches that work best for everyone.
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In addition to being plant pests, they are highly invasive and cause a lot of damage. They eat other slugs which can be good, but they can eat crops way quicker than they can grow. Great post and great pictures, you got yourself a follower! (My wife wants to commit to homesteading too!)
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Thanks. The invasive aspect is what I deal with a lot given the VAST number of places for them to hide and live on the farm. It has made for some serious issues with my seedlings as they get devoured before the 3rd node.
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Wow! I am forever amazed at the awesome designs of the many creatures God left man to name.
Okay, this is a new term for me: leopard slug. SMH...It's getting 'cooler' overnight; creating morning dew...creating the emergence of slugs, slugs, more slugs.
Surely, they serve some purpose in the garden beyond the urge to eradicate them. It seems every morning meets me having to address a hungry snail. I'm sure in some cultures this is protein, and a delicacy. Escargot, anyone?
Thanks for sharing this beauty.
Peace.
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So I would say they do play a beneficial role to the soil and soil level environment due to cleaning up dead plants and fungi. I would presume they aren't detrimental to the soil fungi that interact with the plant's roots, just the surface fungi.
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Aha! Excellent reply...It's all about a part of the food chain; and natural balance of things. Of course, they would be of purpose!
Many thanks for the informative answer. This earns an upvote! Sadly, I have no SP. I certainly wish there was a solution to this. But, all's well.
Peace.
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Nice gardening post
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I like taking photos too. I have no use for slugs. What positive part do they perform in the big picture of things?
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Problem being their voracious appetite for seedlings and young plants.
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this is my first time seeing this, what kind of creature is this? though it looks lovely.
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Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Like a snail with no shell.
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Thank you for getting this out. @flemingfarm
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A beautiful image and a beautiful color
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A slug living for 3 years! Wow!! Between they are ugly and pretty at the same time!
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Amazing photos bro. The leopeard slug was cute .
And I am also having Nikon d7000 it was one of the best camera.
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Thank you. I LOVE my D7200. Kinda disappointed that Nikon stepped back a bit for the D7500 but happy that the 7200 went down in price.
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awesome post friend.please follow me and vote my post.all time I with you. @flemingfarm
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post of the day.Congratulation bro.best of luc.k
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interesting and scary
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Really cool shot! Looks like very long... How tall was the slug?
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Each of the Leopards were about 4.5in/11.5cm and possibly up to 5 or 5.5 inches when fully extended.
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Thanks for the reply!
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