Belocaulus angustipes

Belocaulus angustipes
Two Black-velvet leatherleaf slugs mating
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Systellommatophora
Family:	Veronicellidae
Genus:	Belocaulus
Species:	B. angustipes
Binomial name
Belocaulus angustipes (Heynemann, 1885)

Belocaulus angustipes, the black-velvet leatherleaf slug, is a species of land slug in the family Veronicellidae native to South American tropical regions.[1]

Anatomy and morphology

As the common name suggests, Belocaulus angustipes are generally black and velvety in appearance as adults. Some juveniles of the species will have a pale strip in the middle.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Belocaulus angustipes are native to South American tropical regions.[3] They are also a nonnative but established species in northern Florida and other states in the Gulf Coast of United States.[2]

Behavior

Belocaulus angustipes are mostly active at night and in wet weather.[4] Their diet consists of both live and decaying plant matter.[2] Due to their large numbers in the tropical regions, the Belocaulus angustipes are a big problem for agricultural crops.[4]

Parasitism

In South America, Belocaulus angustipes are a part of the parasitic lifecycle of the nematode parasite Angiostrongylus costaricensis.[5]

References

1. Bieler R, Bouchet P, Gofas S, Marshall B, Rosenberg G, La Perna R, Neubauer TA, Sartori AF, Schneider S, Vos C, ter Poorten JJ, Taylor J, Dijkstra H, Finn J, Bank R, Neubert E, Moretzsohn F, Faber M, Houart R, Picton B, Garcia-Alvarez O (eds.). "Belocaulus angustipes (Heynemann, 1885)". MolluscaBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
2. Capinera, John L.; White, Jodi (3 January 2022) [Originally published June 2011]. "Terrestrial Slugs of Florida (Mollusca: Stylommatophora: Veronicellidae, Phylomycidae, Agrolimacidae and Limacidae)". Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Publication #EENY-494. Retrieved 1 November 2024 – via AskIFAS, EDIS Journal.
3. Das, Partha Pratim Gyanudoy; Bhattacharyya, Badal; Bhagawati, Sudhansu; Devi, Elangbam Bidyarani; Manpoong, Nang Sena; Bhairavi, K Sindhura (2020-06-03). "Slug: An emerging menace in agriculture: A review" (PDF). Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies.
4. Das, Partha Pratim Gyanudoy; Bhattacharyya, Badal; Bhagawati, Sudhansu; Devi, Elangbam Bidyarani; Manpoong, Nang Sena; Bhairavi, K Sindhura (2020-06-03). "Slug: An emerging menace in agriculture: A review" (PDF). Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies.
5. Grewal, P. S.; Grewal, S. K.; Tan, L.; Adams, B. J. (2003). "Parasitism of Molluscs by Nematodes: Types of Associations and Evolutionary Trends". Journal of Nematology. 35 (2): 146–156. PMC 2620629. PMID 19265989.