6 



FARMERS BULLETIN 959. 



in a colony in the location where the eggs were deposited. The slugs 

 remain under cover until nightfall and then come out to feed. The 

 " homing " instinct is well developed in this species, and these slugs 

 will return to the same place night after night unless disturbed, or 

 unless the place becomes too dry for habitation. During their 

 nocturnal excursions they shun all dry, dusty, or sharp surfaces. 

 The route of the slugs back to their daily abode usually is the same 

 as that taken when going forth. When full grown the slugs will 

 travel long distances and overcome many obstacles in search of 

 their favorite food. In confinement these creatures will attack one 



another, and when 

 the weaker succumbs 

 its body is devoured. 



DESCRIPTION. 



THE EGG. 



The 



are de- 



FIG. 3. Work of the spotted garden slug on mushroom. 



eggs 



posited in masses, 

 held together by a 

 light-colored sub- 

 stance, in moist 

 places, such as under 

 decaying boards, 

 flowerpots, and ref- 

 use. Sometimes 

 they are placed be- 

 neath the surface of 

 the ground under 

 clods of earth. 



The translucent, light yellow eggs, with tough and elastic outer 

 membrane, usually will be found in masses of from 50 to 70, though 

 the writer has found 106 in one mass, and one female has been known 

 to deposit 112 eggs in two days. 



THE SLUG. 



The newly hatched slug when extended is a little less than half an 

 inch long and about one-seventh as wide as long. It is dull white, 

 showing no coloration except where the dark eyestalks can be seen 

 through the transparent mantle. In a few hours after hatching the 

 mantle begins to darken, and in about two days the whole body of 

 the animal has turned still darker, three broken longitudinal lines 

 appearing, which run from the base of the mantle to the hind end 

 of the body. The mantle then changes to a mottled gray. As the 

 animal feeds it becomes of a darker and darker hue until in about a 

 month it is dark brown and the black spots begin to appear. In 

 some cases these spots, which are arranged in a line, disappear and 

 the body is of a solid color^ These black spots may or may not re- 

 appear. When full grown the slug is nearly 7 inches in length. 



