Florida leatherleaf Slug
Leidyula Floridana
Florida leatherleaf Slug
Leidyula Floridana
Leidyula floridana, common name the Florida leatherleaf, is a species of tropical air-breathing land slug, shell-less terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Veronicellidae.
The Florida leatherleaf slug (Leidyula floridana) is a tropical land slug, recognizable by its flattened body covered in a thick mantle, often with a pale stripe down the middle, reaching up to 4-5 inches long. These moisture-loving mollusks are active in damp, dark conditions and feed on decaying matter, fungi, and plants, causing ragged holes in foliage and leaving slime trails. They are notable for their unique, shell-like mantle and can be a garden nuisance, but also potential carriers of harmful nematodes.
Physical Characteristics
Size: Can grow up to 4.75 inches (12 cm) or more when fully extended, but often smaller.
Color: Varies, but typically grayish or dark brown with a distinct pale brown stripe down the back (dorsal side). Underside is usually lighter brown.
Body: Flattened with a thick mantle covering the entire body, giving it a leathery look.
Features: Has two retractable optical tentacles on its head.
Behavior & Habitat
Activity: Active at night or in damp, humid conditions, but can tolerate drier soil than other slugs.
Diet: Herbivorous and detritivorous (eats decaying matter), feeding on fungi and live plants, causing ragged feeding marks.
Signs of Presence: Look for slime trails, ribbon-like feces, and chewed leaves.
Habitat: Found in tropical/subtropical areas, common in Florida and the Caribbean.
Other Facts
Nuisance/Pest: Feeds on crops (beans, tomatoes, etc.) and ornamentals.
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Systellommatophora
Family: Veronicellidae
Genus: Leidyula
Species: L. floridana
Binomial name: Leidyula floridana
Leidyula Floridana
Leidyula floridana, common name the Florida leatherleaf, is a species of tropical air-breathing land slug, shell-less terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Veronicellidae.
The Florida leatherleaf slug (Leidyula floridana) is a tropical land slug, recognizable by its flattened body covered in a thick mantle, often with a pale stripe down the middle, reaching up to 4-5 inches long. These moisture-loving mollusks are active in damp, dark conditions and feed on decaying matter, fungi, and plants, causing ragged holes in foliage and leaving slime trails. They are notable for their unique, shell-like mantle and can be a garden nuisance, but also potential carriers of harmful nematodes.
Physical Characteristics
Size: Can grow up to 4.75 inches (12 cm) or more when fully extended, but often smaller.
Color: Varies, but typically grayish or dark brown with a distinct pale brown stripe down the back (dorsal side). Underside is usually lighter brown.
Body: Flattened with a thick mantle covering the entire body, giving it a leathery look.
Features: Has two retractable optical tentacles on its head.
Behavior & Habitat
Activity: Active at night or in damp, humid conditions, but can tolerate drier soil than other slugs.
Diet: Herbivorous and detritivorous (eats decaying matter), feeding on fungi and live plants, causing ragged feeding marks.
Signs of Presence: Look for slime trails, ribbon-like feces, and chewed leaves.
Habitat: Found in tropical/subtropical areas, common in Florida and the Caribbean.
Other Facts
Nuisance/Pest: Feeds on crops (beans, tomatoes, etc.) and ornamentals.
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Systellommatophora
Family: Veronicellidae
Genus: Leidyula
Species: L. floridana
Binomial name: Leidyula floridana
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