Tree Slug - Lehmannia marginata

Description

Length: 60-90 mm. It is a pale, mottled and slightly translucent looking slug with a short keel. It can have pale dark blotches and a variable pale stripe along its back. The sole is pale and mucus is watery and colourless.

Similar Species

It could be confused with juvenile and pale Leopard Slugs, Milax maximus, but this species has a heavier build and stickier and less watery mucus. Juvenile Tree Slugs are more boldly striped and can be confused with the Greenhouse Slug, Ambigolimax valentianus.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

In the East Midlands it is mainly restricted to large, damp woodland.

When to see it

During wet weather it can be seen day or night, often climbing trees.

Life History

Feeds on algae, fungi and lichen, often climbing up into the tree canopy. Because of this specialist diet it is not a pest species.

UK Status

Quite common and widespread across Britain.

VC55 Status

Locally common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Tree Slug
Species group:
Slugs & Snails
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Pulmonata
Family:
Limacidae
Records on NatureSpot:
66
First record:
24/09/1987 (Rundle, Adrian)
Last record:
16/02/2024 (Bell, Melinda)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records