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Family: Milacidae
Common name: Budapest Keeled Slug
Discovery: Hazay, 1880
Identification
Length: 50-70 mm
The slug Tandonia budapestensis is medium-sized, with a prominent dorsal keel from the mantle to the tail. It is yellowish gray to brown or dark gray dorsally and lighter on the sides, with a creamsole. Mantle with darker spots. The keel is usually lighter in color. Its mucus is white or colorless becoming yellowish upon irritation. Pilsbry (1948) noted that Norfolk, Virginia, specimens have a very black dorsal surface.
Ecology
Tandonia budapestensis is found in a variety of habitats in western Europe and the Mediterranean – most commonly along coasts in gardens, farms, grassy seashore, hedges, and woods in association with humans (Kerney & Cameron, 1979). It is an agricultural pest of many crops including soybeans, sunflowers, and oilseed rape (Clemente et al., 2010). In Argentina, eggs hatched at 23 days. In Canada this slug is vulnerable to frost and overwinters in the egg stage (Grimm et al., 2009).
Taxonomy
Synonyms for Tandonia budapestensis include Amalia budapestensis, Limax hewstoni, Milax budapestensis, M. gracilis, and M. hewstoni.
Distribution
This eastern European slug has been introduced to both North American coasts. In Virginia specimens have reportedly been collected from Pittsylvania and Northampton Counties, as well as Norfolk.
Conservation
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
