Tree Slug

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.

Designation

Indicator Species - Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

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: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records