Category Archives: Snails, Slugs and other Molluscs   rss

Murderous, Cannibalistic Snails

Euglandina rosea attacks Achatina fulica
Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 8:09 AM
Good Morning. Hope the subject line got your attention!
Quick one: While in Guam some time ago, I did a photo/research project on the Giant African Snail and its predator. MANY 35mm Ektachromes now converted to medium-format digital….showing adults of both, and the actual attack. Winnowed them down to 4 of the most significant.
Want ‘em? File sizes run under 400kb….but I can easily and quickly optimize to any filesize.
Freely offered….gratis….use them as you wish.
Fred Davis

snail attack fred 300x195 Murderous, Cannibalistic Snails

Snail Attack

Hi Fred,
Sorry it has taken us so long to get back to you, but your letter arrived during the time our website was transitioning, and things got a bit rocky. We just finished posting a letter with an image of mating Spotted Leopard Slugs, and that jogged our memory regarding your several week old letter. We thought your photos and letter would make an interesting companion piece the the aforementioned letter as it is another example of questionable behavior among molluscs.

snail attack fred 1 300x222 Murderous, Cannibalistic Snails

Snail Attack

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Spotted Leopard Slugs

Limax copulation
I just wanted to share this image and these Youtube links of a pair of Limax maximus copulating on my toolshed. I took these images in mid-September 2008 in Brunswick, Maryland (Frederick County).
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=k6Jh6zmoH1o
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=cutUEYHozpM
love your site – i visit regularly and recommend you to my friends
wayneO
Brunswick, Frederick County, Maryland

slug sex wayne 160x300 Mating Spotted Leopard Slugs

Mating Spotted Leopard Slugs

Hi Wayne,
Several years ago when we posted a response that mentioned that all snails and slugs are Hermaphrodites, so all pairings are same sex, we incurred the wrath of a particularly sensitive reader. The facts have not changed on this issue, and slugs are still hermaphrodites. This species is commonly called the Spotted Leopard Slug, the Tiger Slug, or the Great Grey Slug. More can be read on this Oregon State University website.

Leopard Slug Sex

More buggery
Also, just having ran across the adult side of your web site, here’s some more filthy porn for you
Darren

leopard slugsex Leopard Slug Sex

Hi again Darren,
We do find there to be something a bit lewd about this image of mating Leopard Slugs. Interestingly, as these Leopard Slugs are hermaphrodites, they are theoretically indulging in “Same Sex” Coupling.

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Red Triangle Slug from Australia

Hows this for an Aussie slug
We breed them big here in Queensland. This slug was spotted climbing a tree in our garden by us on the way home from our favorite Chinese / Vietnamese restaurant. There had been a good bit of rain (for a change) and this remarkable creature was climbing into the treetops to start munching. I nearly got out the Dettol (a disinfectant spray we use to dispatch the cane toad, an alien pest imported to get rid of the cane toad beetle that has since become an environmental disaster). On closer inspection we were impressed with the bugger and did a bit of Googling (as you do) and found your web site. So here are the images of the Red Triangle Slug from our garden.
Gillian & Len
Queensland, (Australia)

red triangle slug Red Triangle Slug from Australia

Hi Gillian and Len,
Thanks for your awesome image. The first time we saw an image of mating Red Triangle Slugs, we thought someone had painted them.

More Mating Slugs and subsequent Religious and Political Controversy

Slugs Having Sex
Dear Bugman,
I photographed these two slugs in an intimate moment near Chilliwack, BC. They didn’t seem offended; I guess their attention was otherwise occupied. Regards,
Mike

slugsex mike More Mating Slugs and subsequent Religious and Political Controversy

Hi Mike,
You might want to compare the technique of your couple to the French Slugs we just posted. We also can’t help but ponder how conservatives might view the fact that slugs are Hermaphroditic, so all couplings are basically “same sex”.

Dear Bugman,
The answer is simple: “Slugs are godless heathens and live degenerate, immoral lives. We should invade/bomb Slugistan to spread freedom and to keep them from coming to our country.” Regards,
Mike

Religion, Politics and Slugs
(08/28/2006)
Dear Bugman,
I am writing in response to the following posting on your website. I am a proud Conservative Christian and feel l must say that although I enjoy your site, I do not wish to view it anymore. The fact that you yourself would make comments about “how conservatives might view the fact” and also take a step further to post the reader’s obvious anti-conservative and anti-war statements makes me question your site. I am not saying you do not have the right to post your comments or views, it is your website, and it is your right. I’m just exercising my right to not subject myself to rude comments from the left. It is an everyday right we know and a right the Iraqi people would never have known had our President not invaded their country. Leviticus 20:13 “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.” Please do not post my full name or e-mail address. Thank you!
Christina

Hello Christina,
We are happy that you have freedom of choice and that you know how important it is for individuals to be able to make decisions. Every woman has the right to choose if she wants to view our site or not, as does every man. Should you choose to not view our site any longer, we will understand and will not try to force you to do so. For clarification, we never spoke about religion or left or right. Our site is about tolerance of bugs. Also for the record, slugs are molluscs, not insects, and there are no hermaphroditic insects. We personally are not terribly tolerant of slugs in our garden.
P.S. You are very lucky that your employer, Clark Consulting in Dublin Ohio, is tolerant of web surfing and proselytizing from the office computers.

Update (08/28/2006)
WOW! You guys actually posted my response? That took balls, or, perhaps, the non-gender-specific term “gonads”. I could have told you you’d get someone like this writing in in response, but I’m sure you already knew that, as you seem brighter than the average (non-denominational, apolitical, and morally neutral) bulb. Best wishes. Can I still submit pictures,or have I been excommunicated? Cheers,
Mike

Update (08/28/2006)
I also like the part where Christina talks about Bush “invading” Iraq. I didn’t realize it was an invasion; I thought it was a liberation.
Lisa

Additional Feedback in praise of wit and humor
(08/28/2006) hehe….More Mating Slugs and subsequent Religious and Political Controversy
I’m relatively conservative and belong to a very conservative relgious denomination. But I personally believe that Christina takes things WAAAAY too personally. Please don’t let her sensitively reflect poorly on the rest of conservatives. I thought Mike’s note and yours were quite funny. Christina needs to get that bug out of her ass (pun intended).
Becky

Kind Words of Support
(08/29/2006)
The person who states she will not visit your site again IS way too sensitive and needs to chill out—and she is definitely the one losing out on a good thing. Keep up the incredible work—it gives those of us who are fascinated with our cameras and taking pictures of wildlife, both large and miniature, an outlet to show off our stuff. Thanks again
Gloria

Mating Slugs from France

mating slugs – limaces (with photo)
I took this photo about two weeks ago just down the road from a village near the River Creuse in the Limousin region of France. The French call these slugs “limaces.” Each one is about the size of a human finger. I found them fascinating. I stumbled across your page and thought you might be interested, too.
Martha Ward

slugs mating france Mating Slugs from France

Hi Martha,
If we have time, we will try to identify the species. Meanwhile, we will post your fascinating image.

Mating Unknown Slugs from Parts Unknown!!! Identified as Red Triangle Slugs from Australia

Weird Slugs
Hi there,
These two bizarre creatures appeared outside our front door this morning. The photo’s are low-res because I took them with my mobile phone. The patterns you can see are as I saw them, in red and orange. There was a hole in the side of each slug within each pattern. Could you please tell me what they are? I have never seen coloured patterns such as these on any living creature, so I am keen to hear what you have to say!
Thanks,
Simon

slugs bizarre Mating Unknown Slugs from Parts Unknown!!! Identified as Red Triangle Slugs from Australia

Hi Simon,
We agree this is bizarre, but we don’t even know where to begin to reseach since you haven’t provided any global coordinates.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I’m in Sydney, Australia. Thanks,
Simon Edwards

Red triangle slugs
(05/17/2006) Hi Bugman, The two slugs in your recent photo (two days or so ago) look to me like Red Triangle Slugs from Australia.
http://www.amonline.net.au/sand/news/slugs.htm
Alli

Hi Alli,
Thank you so much for sending us the link to the Australian Museum Online which has this to say about the Red Triangle Slug: “Red Triangle Slug from Wallahra, Central Coast, New South Wales. Photo:

Mating Hawaiian Snails

GAL Snail Love
LOVE your website! When I saw the loving Leopard Slugs I remembered these two photos I took near Wahiawa, Ohau, Hawaii, November 2005. I believe they are Giant African Landsnails, an introduced species. I found the second couple a few feet away from the first and they look like they are just getting started. For your mollusk fan – I think that is a small snail of another type on the leaf to the left of flirting pair. Thanks for providing all the great bug info. I’ve used your website several times to identify bugs since recently moving here.
Aloha, Chrissie

snail foreplay hawaii Mating Hawaiian Snailssnail love hawaii Mating Hawaiian Snails

Hi Chrissie,
Thank you for the wonderful letter and fascinating photographs.


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