The Large Red Slug

I saw this beast of a slug on the side of the path on my walk. I was trying a new route and knew it would be a interesting thing to research and write a blog post about!

I took this picture, trying to capture its fine orange trim and all the small, delicate patterns on its back.

Habitat:

I found this one on some farmland in the South Downs. It can also be found in woods, moors and gardens.

Name:

Large Red Slug. Its scientific name is Arion rufus.

Diet:

It eats leaves, stems, flowers fruit and fungi.

When To Find:

I found this one sunbathing in the grass in October. It was snuggled in the vegetation were the plants were cut back.

Why should you look for it?

This lovely brown slug with a little orange fringe around its body is just a sight that made my day. You could see how many different coloured ones you can find. Can you find the common red one or the rare white one? You will not be left disappointed if you spot one of these beauties.

Size and appearance:

The large red slug can grow between 6cm and 15cm long. It has a brown or black back with small ridges running along it. It typically has a red skirt around its body but can also have the colours orange or grey on it. It is very rare to find one with a white or black edging.

Watch this video to help you identify them:

Thanks for reading. For more, look out for my new blog posts!