Large Red Slug - Arion rufus

Size 70 to 140 mm. A large roundback slug varying in colour from whitish through orange and browns to black, with the sides of the body below the mantle pale in darker specimens. Foot fringe always a rich orange to carmine-red, often contrasting with a darker upper body. Sole paler than the upper body and usually with an orange flush near the head end; in dark specimens strong lineolations radiating inwards from the sides, are present.

This slug belongs to a species complex that can often only be differentiated by dissecting the genitalia. There are three species in this complex (Arion ater group): A. ater, A. rufus and A. vulgaris.

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.

Gardens, greenhouses, allotments etc.

All year round.

This omnivore’s diet includes living and dead plant material, fungi, faeces and carrion.

Thought to be widespread in Britain, although difficulty of identification makes true status difficult to determine. 

Thought to be fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland but rarely recorded due to identification difficulties.