Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

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Slugs and Snails

Slugs and Snails

ALL slugs and snails can carry the Rat Lung Worm parasite

All slugs and snails vectors of the Rat Lungworm parasite (Angiostrongylus cantonensis). Some can carry a higher parasite load than others but you should treat all slugs and snails with caution. Handle with gloves or tools, never with your bare hands.

Slugs and snails are a common garden pest that have a voracious appetite. They munch on plants leaving behind a gooey slime trail.

Treating Slugs and Snails

There are multiple ways to manage the slug and snail population in your garden.

  • Slug bait
  • Slug jug
  • Make your yard less habitable, removing excess green waste

Common Slug and Snail Guide

Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica)

  • Full grown adults can get up to 8 inches long and 5 inches in diameter
  • Shells are brownish with darker brown lengthwise stripes
  • Seven to nine whorls, including a swollen long body whorl, and cover at least half the length of the snail.
adult african snail in grass
Adult Giant African Snail
immature african snail
Immature Giant African Snail

Semi-Slug (Parmarion martensi)

  • Full grown adults can get up to 2 inches
  • Various shades of mottled grey
  • Hump on the back
  • Piece of shell on the hump
semi slug on ti plant
Adult Semi-slug
adult and immature semi slugs. showing different sizes of semi slugs
Adult and immature semi-slugs
Photo by: Kay Howe

Black Slug (Veronicella leydigi)

  • Black with a thin yellow stripe
  • Body appears leathery
black slug on root ball
Black Slug
Photo by: Scot Nelson
black slug feeding on produce
Black Slug
Photo by: Scott Nelson

Cuban Slug (Veronicella cubensis)

  • Various shades of brown
  • Two black/dark brown stripes along body, or no stripes. Stripes can be broken making them look spotty
  • Thin light colored line down the middle of the body
  • Adults can be around 2-3 inches long
cuban slug that has a mottled coloring rather than stripes
Cuban slug with no stripe
cuban slig with distinctive pair of black stripes
Cuban Snail with stripes
Photo by: Scott Nelson

Meghimatium bilineatum

  • Off white/light brown
  • 2-3 inches long
  • Faint lines along the back
Meghimatium bilineatum next to ruler
Meghimatium bilineatum
Meghimatium bilineatum with finger for size reference
Meghimatium bilineatum

Grey Field Slug (Deroceras reticulatum)

  • 35-55mm long
  • Creme or grey colored
  • Back half of the slug has grooves
  • Can have dark grey/brown speckles
Grey Field Slug, creme colored, no speckles
Grey Field Slug, creme colored, no speckles
Wikimedia Commons
grey field slug, grey with speckles
Grey Field Slug, grey with speckles
Wikimedia Commons

Help us record the slugs and snails on the Big Island! Take as clear of a picture as you can and attach it to the report.

If you need help IDing the slug/snail email us the picture at biisc@hawaii.edu and save the specimen in a sealed container.

Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)

23 East Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 933-3340

  

biisc@hawaii.edu

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