argyrotaenia velutinana , the red-banded leafroller moth , is a species of moth of the tortricidae family .

it is found in the eastern united states and south-eastern canada , from quebec and ontario to florida , west to texas and at least iowa .

it has also been reported from british columbia .

the wingspan is 13 – 20 mm .

the forewings have a wide diagonal median band that is reddish in females and blackish in males .

the basal area is light yellowish-brown with darker shading near the inner margin .

the hindwings are dirty white to light grey with a pale fringe .

adults are on wing from february to october in two to four generations per year .

the larvae feed on various plants , including the leaves and fruit of apple and other fruit trees , as well as spruce and various vegetables .

they are green with a pale dorsal stripe and a yellowish head and reach a length of about 16 mm .

the species overwinters in the pupal stage in folded leaves on the ground .

argyrotaenia velutinana

argyrotaenia velutinana <EOT> redbanded leaf roller larva , a . velutinana . | redbanded leaf roller larva , argyrotaenia velutinana .

species argyrotaenia velutinana - red - banded leafroller - hodges # 3597 - bugguide . net

velutinana walker , 1863 ( cacoecia ? ) , list specimens lepid . insects colln . br . mus 28 : 313 . tl : north america , holotype : bmnh . male .

argyrotaenia velutinana was once considered one of the most important tortricid pests on apple in the eastern united states . its status as a major pest peaked after the widespread use of ddt in the late 1940 ' s presumably destroyed many of its natural enemies . it is currently controlled under most ipm programs and is only considered a minor pest .

argyrotaenia velutinana completes 2 - 3 full generations over much of its range . because this species undergoes facultative diapause , the number of generations can vary depending on latitude . in the north , only two generations are completed , with a partial third possible . in the south , a possible fourth generation is present . overwintering occurs in the pupal stage .

adults can appears similar to other species of argyrotaenia . in the nearctic , this includes species such as a . floridana , a . kimballi , a . niscana , a . pinatubana , and a . tabulana . in the palearctic , argyrotaenia ljungiana may appear similar . a genitalic dissection can be used to confirm identity . male a . velutinana have a distal , pointed projection from the median sclerotized portion of the valva that is absent in a . ljungiana .

larvae of argyrotaenia velutinana are highly polyphagous and have been described by freeman ( 1958 ) as feeding " on almost any plant . " this includes several conifers , as reported by prentice ( 1966 ) . chapman and lienk ( 1971 ) speculate that primary hosts may be limited to members of the rosaceae , as apple appears to be a preferred host in many regions . the following partial host list includes both primary and secondary hosts :

digachthes razowski , 1990 ( argyrotaenia ) , ann . zool . 43 : 403 . no type

oligahthes razowski , 1964 ( argyrotaenia ) , ann . zool . 22 : 458 . no type

lignaea razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 316 no type

ochrotona razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 312 no type

digahthes razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 311 no type

the green unmarked larva can be confused with the larva of many other tortricids , including other species of argyrotaenia , epiphyas postvittana , and choristoneura rosaceana .

tucumana trematerra & brown , 2004 ( argyrotaenia ) , zootaxa 574 : 4 tl : argentina , tucumn , ciudad universitaria . holotype : usnm . male .

cibdela razowski , 1988 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 31 : 409 tl : peru , cuzco , tambomachay . holotype : usnm . male .

lobata razowski , 1988 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 31 : 408 tl : bolivia , cochabamba , incachaca . holotype : usnm . male .

occultana freeman , 1942 ( argyrotaenia ) , can . ent . 74 : 57 . tl : canada , quebec , mount lyall . holotype : cnc . male .

repertana freeman , 1944 ( argyrotaenia ) , sci . agric . 25 : 84 . tl : canada , new brunswick , waweig . holotype : cnc . female .

tabulana freeman , 1944 ( argyrotaenia ) , sci . agric . 25 : 87 . tl : canada , ontario , constance bay . holotype : cnc . female .

brimuncus razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 316 tl : costa rica , braulio carrillo . holotype : vbc . male .

dearmata razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 312 tl : brazil , paran , curitiba . holotype : vbc . female .

fragosa razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 317 tl : brazil , paran , curitiba . holotype : vbc . male .

kearfotti obraztsov , 1961 ( argyrotaenia ) , am . mus . novit . 2048 : 27 . tl : usa . california , carmel . holotype : amnh . male .

obvoluta razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 319 tl : brazil , paran , curitiba . holotype : vbc . female .

parturita razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 313 tl : mexico , veracruz , huatusco . holotype : vbc . male .

jamaicana razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 313 tl : jamaica , greenhills , hardware gap . holotype : cmnh . male .

levidensa razowski , 1991 ( argyrotaenia ) , shilap revta . lepid . 19 ( 1990 ) : 140 . tl : brazil , nova teutonia . holotype : umb . female .

lojalojae razowski & becker , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 15 . tl : ecuador , loja , loja . holotype : vbc . male .

polvosana obraztsov , 1961 ( argyrotaenia ) , am . mus . novit . 2048 : 31 . tl : mexico , chihuahua , la polvosa . holotype : amnh . male .

albosignata razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 318 tl : brazil , paran , morro de meio . holotype : vbc . male .

chillana razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 329 tl : ecuador , el oro , 6 km n chilla . holotype : cmnh . male .

chroeca razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 314 tl : costa rica , cerro de la muerte . holotype : vbc . male .

cubae razowski & becker , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 13 . tl : cuba , santiago , sierra maestra . holotype : vbc . male .

floridana obraztsov , 1961 ( argyrotaenia ) , am . mus . novit . . 2048 : 8 . tl : usa , florida , port sewall . holotype : amnh . male .

fortis razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 319 tl : costa rica , cerro de la muerte . holotype : vbc . female .

granpiedrae razowski & becker , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 17 . tl : cuba , santiago , gran piedra . holotype : vbc . male .

magnuncus razowski & wojtusiak , 2008 ( argyrotaenia ) , genus 19 : 533 . tl : ecuador , province cotopaxi , via la mana , pilalo . holotype : mzuj . male .

pilalona razowski & wojtusiak , 2008 ( argyrotaenia ) , genus 19 : 530 . tl : ecuador , province cotopaxi , via la mana , pilalo . holotype : mzuj . male .

pomililiana trematerra & brown , 2004 ( argyrotaenia ) , zootaxa 574 : 2 tl : argentina , ro negro province , alto valle de rio negro . holotype : tremc . male .

telemacana razowski & becker , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 16 . tl : brazil , parana , telemaco borba . holotype : vbc . male .

burroughsi obraztsov , 1961 ( argyrotaenia ) , am . mus . novit . 2048 : 33 . tl : usa , colorado , mesa verde national park . holotype : amnh . male .

cupreographa razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 311 tl : mexico , veracruz , estacin biologia las tuxtlas . holotype : vbc . male .

hodgesi heppner , 1989 ( argyrotaenia ) , fla . ent . 72 : 102 . tl : usa , florida , glade co . , fisheating creek . holotype : usnm . male .

potosiana razowski & becker , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 17 . tl : mexico , nuevo leon , cerro potosi . holotype : vbc . male .

santacatarinae razowski & becker , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 14 . tl : brazil , santa catarina , sao joaquim . holotype : vbc . male .

vinalesiae razowski & becker , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 13 . tl : cuba , pinar del rio , venales . holotype : vbc . female .

altera razowski & wojtusiak , 2008 ( argyrotaenia ) , genus 19 : 533 . tl : ecuador , province carchi , res . forest golondrinas , west cordillera . holotype : mzuj . male .

coconinana brown & cramer , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , j . lepid . soc . 53 : 121 : tl : usa , arizona , coconino co . . holotype : usnm . male .

confinis razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 310 tl : mexico , chiapas , san cristobal de las casas . holotype : vbc . male .

glabra razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 320 tl : mexico , chiapas , san cristobal de las casas . holotype : vbc . male .

hemixia razowski , 1991 ( argyrotaenia ) , shilap revta . lepid . 19 ( 1990 ) : 139 . tl : brazil , santa catarina , nova teutonia . holotype : umb . male .

chalarostium razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia minisignaria ssp . ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 315 tl : jamaica . blue mt . peak . holotype : cmnh . female .

huachucensis obraztsov , 1961 ( argyrotaenia montezumae ssp . ) , am . mus . novit . 2048 : 7 . tl : usa . arizona , huachuca mountains . holotype : usnm . male .

sagata razowski & becker , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 43 : 311 tl : brazil , rio de janeiro , parque nacional itatiaia . holotype : vbc . male .

spaldingiana obraztsov , 1961 ( argyrotaenia ) , am . mus . novit . 2048 : 20 . tl : usa , utah , utah co . , provo . holotype : usnm . male .

subcordillerae razowski & wojtusiak , 2008 ( argyrotaenia ) , genus 19 : 531 . tl : ecuador , province carchi , res . forest golondrinas , west cordillera . holotype : mzuj . male .

tenuis razowski & wojtusiak , 2008 ( argyrotaenia ) , genus 19 : 532 . tl : ecuador , province carchi , res . forest golondrinas , west cordillera . holotype : mzuj . male .

atrata razowski & wojtusiak , 2009 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 51b : 152 . tl : ecuador , prov . tungurahua , banos - runtun . holotype : mzuj . male .

chiapasi razowski & becker , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 14 . tl : mexico , chiapas , san cristobal de las casas . holotype : vbc . male .

klotsi obraztsov , 1961 ( argyrotaenia ) , am . mus . novit . 2048 : 36 tl : usa , new mexico , panchuela ranger station , near cowles . holotype : amnh . male .

lautana powell , 1960 ( argyrotaenia ) , pan - pacif . ent . 36 : 90 . tl : usa , california , san bernardino mountains , camp baldy . holotype : usnm . male .

ochrochroa razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 310 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( providenciales , erebus hotel area ) . holotype : cmnh . female .

octavana brown & cramer , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , j . lepid . soc . 53 : 121 . tl : mexico , puebla , 10 km e esperanza . holotype : eme . male .

posticicnephaea razowski & wojtusiak , 2009 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 51b : 151 . tl : ecuador , prov . tungurahua , banos - runtun . holotype : mzuj . male .

bialbistriata brown & cramer , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , j . lepid . soc . 53 : 124 . tl : mexico , durango , 10 mi w el salto . holotype : cnc . male .

burnsorum powell , 1960 ( argyrotaenia ) , pan - pacif . ent . 36 : 91 . tl : usa , texas , jeff davis co . , davis mountains . holotype : cas . male .

cordillerae razowski & wojtusiak , 2006 ( argyrotaenia ) , shilap revta . lepid . 34 : 51 . tl : venezuela , cordillera de mrida , mrida , monte zerpa . holotype : mzuj . male .

cupressae powell , 1960 ( argyrotaenia ) , pan - pacif . ent . 36 : 83 . tl : usa , california , los angeles co . , los angeles . holotype : cas . female .

beyeria powell , 1960 ( argyrotaenia cupressae ssp . ) , pan - pacif . ent . 36 : 85 . tl : usa . california , alameda co , berkeley . holotype : cas . male .

ferruginea razowski & wojtusiak , 2006 ( argyrotaenia ) , shilap revta . lepid . 34 : 51 . tl : venezuela , cordillera de mrida , mrida , monte zerpa . holotype : mzuj . male .

graviduncus razowski & wojtusiak , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 118 . tl : peru , prov . cusco , cordillera vilcanota , marcapata . holotype : mzuj . male .

kimballi obraztsov , 1961 ( argyrotaenia ) , am . mus . novit . 2048 : 13 . tl : usa , florida , highlands co . , archbold biological station . holotype : amnh . male .

unda brown & cramer , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , j . lepid . soc . 53 : 119 . tl : mexico , mexico , 7 air km wsw juchitepec . holotype : eme . male .

bisignata razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 310 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( pedernales , 5 km ne los arroyos ) . holotype : cmnh . male .

ceramica razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 309 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( pedernales , 8 km ne los arroyos ) . holotype : cmnh . male .

lignitaenia powell , 1965 ( argyrotaenia ) , proc . biol . soc . wash . 78 : 72 . tl : usa , california , riverside co . , pinyon flat . holotype : cas . male .

minisignaria razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 311 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( pedernales , 8 km ne los arroyos ) . holotype : cmnh . female .

nuezana razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 309 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( la vega , 24 km se constanza ) . holotype : cmnh . female .

thamaluncus razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 311 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( peravia , 3 km sw la nuez ) . holotype : cmnh . male .

fuscociliana stephens , 1852 ( argyrotaenia ) , list specimens br . anim . colln . br . mus 10 : 68 . tl : united kingdom . great britain . syntype ( s ) : bmnh . unknown .

neibana razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 310 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( baoruco , sierra de neiba , los guineos ) . holotype : cmnh . female .

graceana powell , 1960 ( argyrotaenia ) , pan - pacif . ent . 36 : 93 . tl : usa , california , riverside co . , san bernardino mountains , hathaway creek . holotype : usnm . male .

griseina razowski & wojtusiak , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 117 . tl : peru , dept . huanuco , via huanuco - tingo maria , carpish . holotype : mzuj . male .

isolatissima powell , 1964 ( argyrotaenia ) , univ . calif . publ . ent . 32 : 212 . tl : usa , california , los angeles co . , santa barbara island . holotype : lacm . male .

nigrorbis razowski & wojtusiak , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 118 . tl : peru , dept . huanuco , via huanuco - tingo maria , carpish . holotype : mzuj . female .

descriptions of and notes on north and central american species of argyrotaenia , with the description of a new genus . nicholas s . obraztsov . 1961 . american museum novitates , no . 2048 : pp . 1 - 42 .

insulana powell , 1964 ( argyrotaenia franciscana ssp . ) , univ . calif . publ . ent . 32 : 201 . tl : usa . california , ventura co . , anacapa island . holotype : lacm . male .

spinacallis brown & cramer , 2000 ( argyrotaenia ) , j . lepid . soc . 53 : 119 . tl : mexico , veracruz , caon de las minas , 13 km ne perote . holotype : eme . male .

felisana razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 309 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( independentia , sierra de neiba , 5 km wnw angel felis ) . holotype : cmnh . female .

cognatana stephens , 1852 ( argyrotaenia ) , list specimens br . anim . colln . br . mus 10 : 68 . tl : united kingdom . scotland [ united kingdom ] . syntype ( s ) : bmnh . unknown .

martini powell , 1960 ( argyrotaenia ) , pan - pacif . ent . 36 : 94 . tl : usa , arizona , graham co . , pinaleno mountains , mount graham , pine crest . holotype : lacm . male .

mesosignaria razowski , 1999 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 42 : 311 tl : dominican republic , dominican republic ( la vega , 9 km se constanza , near valle nuevo ) . holotype : cmnh . female .

paiuteana powell , 1960 ( argyrotaenia ) , pan - pacif . ent . 36 : 87 . tl : usa , california , mono co . , rock creek , 1 mi w tom ' s place . holotype : cas . male .

interfasciae razowski & wojtusiak , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 117 . tl : peru , dept . pasco , oxapampa , el cedro , yanachaga - chemillen n . p . . holotype : mzuj . male .

posticirosea razowski & wojtusiak , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 119 . tl : peru , dept . pasco , oxapampa , el cedro , yanachaga - chemillen n . p . . holotype : mzuj . female .

rufina razowski & wojtusiak , 2010 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 53b : 116 . tl : peru , dept . pasco , oxapampa , el cedro , yanachaga - chemillen n . p . . holotype : mzuj . male .

rufescens razowski & wojtusiak , 2009 ( argyrotaenia ) , acta zool . cracov . 51b : 152 . tl : ecuador , prov . morona - santiago , n . p . sangay , qda . shillnan , via guamote - macas . holotype : mzuj . male .

onorei razowski & pelz , 2004 ( argyrotaenia ) , nachrbl . ent . ver . apollo ( n . f . ) 25 : 132 . tl : ecuador , morona - santiago province , macas , proao > alshi , 5 km s alshi . holotype : smfl . female .

scotina razowski & pelz , 2004 ( argyrotaenia ) , nachrbl . ent . ver . apollo ( n . f . ) 25 : 132 . tl : ecuador , morona - santiago province , macas , proao > alshi , 5 km s alshi . holotype : smfl . male .

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adult - forewing has wide diagonal median band that is reddish in female , blackish in male ; basal area light yellowish - brown with darker shading near inner margin ; pale whitish shading in am area at inner margin forms diamond - shaped patch when wings are held together at rest ; whitish shading beyond median band except for dark triangular patch along costa in pm area ; hindwing dirty white to light gray with pale fringe .

larva - body green with pale dorsal stripe ; head yellowish . see photo at tortai .

polyphagous on the foliage and fruit of deciduous trees and shrubs , herbaceous plants , and rarely conifers . it can be a major pest of apple orchards .

early instar larva creates small silk shelter where it skeletonizes the underside of leaf along the mid - vein . later instars silk together two leaves , or a leaf to a fruit . overwinters as pupa in folded leaf on the ground .

walker , f . , 1863 . list of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the british museum . part xxviii – tortricites and tineites .

list of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the british museum . part xxviii – tortricites and tineites francis walker . 1863 . british museum ( natural history ) , p . 287 - 561 .

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alisellana robinson , 1869 ( tortrix ) , trans . am . ent . soc 2 : 267 . tl : usa , ohio . syntype ( s ) : unknown . unknown .

amatana dyar , 1901 ( lophoderus ) , j . new york ent . soc . 9 : 24 . tl : usa , florida , palm beach co . , palm beach . syntypes : usnm . 3 males .

chioccana kearfott , 1907 ( tortrix ) , trans . am . ent . soc 33 : 72 . tl : usa . florida . lectotype : amnh . male .

chiococcana meyrick , in wagner , 1912 ( argyrotoxa ) , lepid . cat . 10 : 52 . no type

artocopa meyrick , 1932 ( tortrix ) , exotic microlepid . 4 : 255 . tl : costa rica , orosi . holotype : nhmv . male .

atima walsingham , 1914 ( tortrix ) , biol . centr . - am . lepid . heterocera 4 : 292 . tl : panama , volcan de chiriqu . holotype : bmnh . female .

cacaoticaria razowski & wojtusiak , 2006 ( bonagota ) , acta zool . cracov . 49b : 31 . tl : ecuador , prov . morona - santiago , gualaceo - limon road , east . holotype : mzuj . male .

citharexylana zeller , 1866 ( teras ) , stettin . ent . ztg . 27 : 138 . tl : colombia , cundinamarca , near umbaque . syntype ( s ) : bmnh . 1 female .

coloradanus fernald , 1882 ( lophoderus ) , trans . am . ent . soc 10 : 67 . tl : usa , colorado . syntypes : usnm . male , female .

dichotoma walsingham , 1914 ( tortrix ) , biol . centr . - am . lepid . heterocera 4 : 291 . tl : mexico , guerrero , omilteme . holotype : bmnh . female .

dichroaca walsingham , 1914 ( tortrix ) , biol . centr . - am . lepid . heterocera 4 : 279 . tl : mexico and costa rica , mexico ( guerrero , amula ) and costa rica ( ro susio ) . syntypes : bmnh . 1male , 1female .

dispositana zeller , 1877 ( tortrix ) , horae soc . ent . ross . 13 : 94 . tl : colombia , bogot . holotype : bmnh . female .

spoliana zeller , 1877 ( tortrix ) , horae soc . ent . ross . 13 : 96 . tl : colombia . bogot . holotype : bmnh . male .

dorsalana dyar , 1903 ( tortrix ) , proc . ent . soc . wash . 5 : 231 . tl : usa , arizona , coconino co . , williams . syntype ( s ) : usnm ; amnh . 4 males , 2 females .

dimorphana barnes & busck , 1920 ( tortrix ) , contrib . nat . hist . lepid . n . am 4 : 215 . tl : canada . british columbia , victoria . holotype : usnm . male .

franciscana walsingham , 1879 ( tortrix ) , illust . typical specimens lepid . heterocera colln . br . mus 4 : 13 . tl : usa , california , san francisco . holotype : bmnh . male .

citrana fernald , 1889 ( tortrix ) , ent . am . 5 : 18 . tl : usa . california . syntype ( s ) : usnm : 1 male . unknown .

gogana kearfott , 1907 ( olethreutes ) , trans . am . ent . soc 33 : 8 . tl : canada , british columbia , wellington . holotype : amnh . male .

crepuscularis meyrick , 1912 ( olethreutes ) , ent . mon . mag . 48 : 35 . no type

guatemalica walsingham , 1914 ( tortrix ) , biol . centr . - am . lepid . heterocera 4 : 280 . tl : guatemala , totonicapam . holotype : bmnh . female .

haemothicta meyrick , 1926 ( eulia ) , exotic microlepid . 3 : 257 . tl : colombia , monte del eden . lectotype : bmnh . male .

heureta walsingham , 1914 ( tortrix ) , biol . centr . - am . lepid . heterocera 4 : 281 . tl : guatemala , quiche mountains . holotype : bmnh . male .

iopsamma meyrick , 1931 ( tortrix ) , exotic microlepid . 4 : 150 . tl : brazil , so paulo , alto da serra . holotype : nhmv . male .

ivana fernald , 1901 ( tortrix ) , j . new york ent . soc . 9 : 51 . tl : usa , florida . holotype : usnm . male .

juglandana fernald , 1879 ( tortrix ) , can . ent . 11 : 155 . tl : usa , canada , usa , massachusetts / ohio / wisconsin ; canada , ontario . syntypes : usnm . male , female .

lignea meyrick , 1917 ( tortrix ) , trans . ent . soc . lond . 1917 : 9 . tl : ecuador , chimborazo province , huigra . lectotype : bmnh . male .

ljungiana thunberg , 1797 ( tortrix ) , kngl . svenska vetenskakad . handl . 18 : 168 . tl : europe , syntype ( s ) : unknown . unknown .

lepidana herrich - schaffer , 1855 ( uninomial ) , syst . bearbeitung schmett . eur . 4 : pl . 58 , fig . 413 . tl : europe . syntype ( s ) : unknown . unknown .

micantana lucas , 1937 ( olethreutes ) , bull . soc . ent . fr . 42 : 127 . tl : france . ardche , la voulte . holotype : mnhn . male .

micanthana razowski , 1961 ( olethreutes ) , acta zool . cracov . 5 : 661 no type

politana haworth , 1811 ( tortrix ) , lepid . br . ( 3 ) : 465 . tl : united kingdom . great britain . syntype ( s ) : bmnh . unknown .

pulchellana haworth , 1811 ( tortrix ) , lepid . br . ( 3 ) : 429 . tl : united kingdom . great britain . syntype ( s ) : bmnh . unknown .

sylvana hubner , [ 1796 - 1799 ] ( tortrix ) , samml . eur . schmett . 7 : pl . 20 , fig . 128 . tl : europe . syntype ( s ) : unknown . unknown .

loxonephes meyrick , 1937 ( eulia ) , exotic microlepid . 5 : 128 . tl : argentina , pampa . lectotype : bmnh . female .

mariana fernald , 1882 ( lophoderus ) , trans . am . ent . soc 10 : 67 . tl : usa , maine / florida . lectotype : usnm . male .

montezumae walsingham , 1914 ( tortrix ) , biol . centr . - am . lepid . heterocera 4 : 280 . tl : mexico , guerrero , amula . holotype : bmnh . male .

impositana walsingham , 1914 ( tortrix ) , biol . centr . - am . lepid . heterocera 4 : 279 . tl : guatemala . senahu , vera paz . holotype : bmnh . female .

niscana kearfott , 1907 ( eulia ) , trans . am . ent . soc 33 : 94 . tl : usa , california , carmel . lectotype : amnh . male .

camerata meyrick , 1912 ( eulia ) , ent . mon . mag . 48 : 35 . no type

oligachthes meyrick , 1932 ( eulia ) , exotic microlepid . 4 : 257 . tl : costa rica , orosi . holotype : nhmv . female .

oriphanes meyrick , 1930 ( tortrix ) , exotic microlepid . 3 : 608 . tl : peru , agualani . holotype : bmnh . male .

pinatubana kearfott , 1905 ( eulia ) , can . ent . 37 : 9 . tl : usa , new jersey , essex co . park . lectotype : amnh . male .

pinitubana meyrick , in wytsman , 1913 ( eulia ) , genera insectorum ( lepid . heter . tort . ) 149 : 39 . no type

ponera walsingham , 1914 ( tortrix ) , biol . centr . - am . lepid . heterocera 4 : 279 . tl : mexico , puebla , popocatepetl park . holotype : usnm . male .

provana kearfott , 1907 ( olethreutes ) , trans . am . ent . soc 33 : 16 . tl : canada , british columbia . lectotype : amnh . unknown .

invidana barnes & busck , 1920 ( tortrix ) , contrib . nat . hist . lepid . n . am 4 : 215 : tl : canada . british columbia , vancouver island , duncans . holotype : usnm . male .

purata meyrick , 1932 ( tortrix ) , exotic microlepid . 4 : 254 . tl : costa rica , irazu . lectotype : nhmv . male .

quadrifasciana fernald , 1882 ( lophoderus ) , trans . am . ent . soc 10 : 67 . tl : usa , maine . syntypes : usnm . 2 males .

quercifoliana fitch , 1858 ( argyrolepia ) , rep . ins . new york : 826 . tl : usa , new york . syntype ( s ) : usnm . 1 male .

trifurculana zeller , 1875 ( tortrix ) , verh . zool . - bot . ges . wien 25 : 226 . tl : usa . texas , dallas . syntypes : bmnh : 1 ; mcz : 1 . unknown .

sphaleropa meyrick , 1909 ( tortrix ) , trans . ent . soc . lond . 1909 : 15 . tl : bolivia , sapago . lectotype : bmnh . male .

fletcheriella khler , 1940 ( eulia ) , an . soc . cient . argent . 128 : 371 . tl : argentina . tigre . holotype : bourc . male , female .

tristriata meyrick , 1931 ( eulia ) , exotic microlepid . 4 : 151 . tl : brazil , so paulo , alto da serra . holotype : nhmv . male .

urbana busck , 1912 ( tortrix ) , proc . ent . soc . wash . 14 : 86 . tl : mexico , mexico city . holotype : usnm . male .

incertana clemens , 1865 ( tortrix ) , proc . ent . soc . philad . 5 : 138 . tl : usa . virginia . holotype : ansp . female .

lutosana clemens , 1865 ( tortrix ) , proc . ent . soc . philad . 5 : 138 . tl : usa . virginia . holotype : ansp . male .

triferana walker , 1863 ( cacoecia ) , list specimens lepid . insects colln . br . mus 28 : 314 . tl : north america . holotype : bmnh . female .

venezuelana walker , 1863 ( dichelia ) , list specimens lepid . insects colln . br . mus 28 : 319 . tl : venezuela , holotype : bmnh . female .

unless noted , all images on these pages are copyright © 2003 - 14 by todd gilligan . please do not download , copy , print , or otherwise distribute any images from these pages without the permission of the author . contact form .

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the distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available . when several references are cited , they may give conflicting information on the status . further details may be available for individual references in the distribution table details section which can be selected by going to generate report .

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forewing ground color ranges from pale brown to golden brown . the most conspicuous wing marking is the reddish - brown median fascia , which is the basis for the species ' common name . other markings can be quite variable , although generally there is a dark mark or partial fascia at the base of the wing , a reddish - brown outer costal spot , and a row of near - white scales along the termen that may extend to the median fascia in some individuals . hindwings are grayish brown . males lack a forewing costal fold .

late instar larvae are 13 - 18 mm in length with a green to yellowish green abdomen . the head , prothoracic shield , and thoracic legs are yellowish green and unmarked .

in new york , adults of the overwintering ( second ) generation are present in april and may . those of the first generation are present in late june to july . in southern indiana and virginia , adults of the overwintering ( fourth ) generation are present in march and april . those of the first generation are present in late may to june , those of the second generation are present in july , and those of the third generation present in august and september .

in the spring , females lay eggs in masses on smooth bark of the trunk and lower limbs of host trees . during the summer , females lay egg masses on the upper surface of leaves . each egg mass contains approximately 40 - 45 individual eggs . egg development time ranges from 7 - 12 days in the south to 14 - 21 days in the north . first instar larvae crawl up limbs in search of food or disperse on silk threads to other parts of the host or to other plants . early instars skeletonize the upper surface of a leaf along the midrib , concealed by a patch of silk . they remain under the silk patch until the penultimate instar , at which point they move to feed on other leaves or fruit . late instar larvae of the summer generations will often construct a shelter by webbing a leaf to fruit , and feeding underneath directly on the fruit . larval feeding damage causes fruit rot and early drop in hosts such as apple . larvae will continue to feed on fallen fruit and may be dispersed in this manner if fallen fruit is moved to a different location . larvae complete development in approximately 30 days and move to the ground to pupate in a folded leaf under other leaves and debris . adults of the first two generations eclose in 7 - 13 days ; those of the last generation eclose the following spring .

chapman , p . j . and s . e . lienk . 1971 . tortricid fauna of apple in new york ( lepidoptera : tortricidae ) ; including an account of apple ' s occurrence in the state , especially as a naturalized plant . spec . publ . geneva , ny : new york state agricultural experiment station . 122 pp .

freeman , t . n . 1958 . the archipinae of north america ( lepidoptera : tortricidae ) . the canadian entomologist supplement 7 ( vol . 90 ) : 1 - 89 .

prentice , r . m . 1966 . forest lepidoptera of canada recorded by the forest insect survey . vol . 4 . microlepidoptera . publication 1142 , department of forestry , canada , ottawa . 543 - 840 .

summerland , s . a . and d . w . hamilton . 1955 . biology of the red - banded leaf roller in southern indiana . journal of economic entomology . 48 : 51 - 53 .

tortricids of agricultural importance by todd m . gilligan and marc e . epstein interactive keys developed in lucid 3 . 5 . last updated august 2014 .

a red - banded leafroller moth in howard co . , maryland ( 8 / 1 / 2017 ) . photo by anthony vanschoor . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in baltimore co . , maryland ( 4 / 12 / 2014 ) . photo by emily stanley . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 7 / 23 / 2016 ) . determined by roger downer / bamona . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 4 / 2 / 2016 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in anne arundel co . , maryland ( 4 / 18 / 2015 ) . determined by roger downer / bamona . photo by bill hubick . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 7 / 14 / 2017 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in harford co . , maryland ( 4 / 19 / 2014 ) . photo by mike burchett . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in worcester co . , maryland ( 6 / 13 / 2013 ) . photo by scott housten . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 4 / 4 / 2017 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 9 / 6 / 2016 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in baltimore co . , maryland ( 5 / 6 / 2014 ) . photo by scott housten . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 7 / 29 / 2016 ) . verified by roger downer / bamona . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 6 / 16 / 2014 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in cecil co . , maryland ( 5 / 3 / 2015 ) . verified by roger downer / bamona . photo by shannon schade . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in anne arundel co . , maryland ( 6 / 20 / 2014 ) . verified by roger downer / bamona . photo by bill hubick . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in howard co . , maryland ( 8 / 7 / 2016 ) . photo by anthony vanschoor . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in dorchester co . , maryland ( 7 / 6 / 2016 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 8 / 18 / 2015 ) . verified by roger downer / bamona . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in worcester co . , maryland ( 8 / 7 / 2013 ) . photo by scott housten . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 8 / 14 / 2015 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in dorchester co . , maryland ( 4 / 17 / 2015 ) . photo by jonathan willey . ( mbp list )

a female red - banded leafroller moth in prince george ' s co . , maryland ( 4 / 2 / 2010 ) . determined by bob patterson / bugguide . photo by eric gofreed . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 6 / 18 / 2018 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in baltimore co . , maryland ( 4 / 21 / 2014 ) . photo by scott housten . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in prince george ' s co . , maryland ( 7 / 23 / 2014 ) . verified by marcia morris / bugguide . photo by jesse christopherson . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 7 / 8 / 2016 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 5 / 3 / 2015 ) . verified by roger downer / bamona . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in prince george ' s co . , maryland ( 3 / 23 / 2016 ) . photo by rod burley . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 9 / 11 / 2015 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in baltimore city , maryland ( 8 / 10 / 2016 ) . determined by paul dennehy / bugguide . photo by derek hudgins . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 6 / 29 / 2016 ) . determined by roger downer / bamona . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in harford co . , maryland ( 8 / 2 / 2015 ) . verified by roger downer / bamona . photo by dave webb . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 9 / 10 / 2016 ) . verified by roger downer / bamona . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

a male red - banded leafroller moth in prince george ' s co . , maryland ( 4 / 15 / 2006 ) . photo by bob patterson . ( mbp list )

a female red - banded leafroller moth in prince george ' s co . , maryland ( 3 / 26 / 2004 ) . photo by bob patterson . ( mbp list )

a male red - banded leafroller moth in howard co . , maryland ( 2003 ) . photo by larry line . ( mbp list )

a female red - banded leafroller moth in prince george ' s co . , maryland ( 0 / 0 / 2004 ) . specimen provided by bob patterson . photo by larry line . ( mbp list )

a red - banded leafroller moth in frederick co . , maryland ( 6 / 13 / 2017 ) . photo by mark etheridge . ( mbp list )

use of images featured on maryland biodiversity project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer .


the kerry slug or kerry spotted slug , scientific name geomalacus maculosus , is a rare species of medium-sized to large air-breathing land slug .

it is a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family arionidae , the roundback slugs .

an adult kerry slug generally measures 7 – 8 cm ( 2.8 – 3.2 in ) in length and is dark grey or brownish in colour , with yellowish spots .

the internal anatomy of the slug shows some unusual features , and some characteristic differences from the genus arion , which is the type genus of the family arionidae .

the kerry slug was described in 1843 , rather late compared to many other relatively large land gastropods that form a part of the fauna of the british isles ; this is one indication of this slug 's rarity and its secretive habits .

although the distribution of this slug species does include some wild habitats in southwestern ireland ( e.g. in county kerry ) , the species is more widespread in north-west spain and from central to northern portugal .

however , it is not found anywhere between ireland and spain .

the species appears to require environments that have high humidity and acidic soil ( soil with no calcium carbonate in it ) .

the slug is mostly nocturnal or crepuscular , although in ireland it is active on overcast days .

it feeds on lichens , liverworts , mosses and fungi , which grow either on boulders or on tree trunks .

this rare species is officially protected by conservation laws in each of the three countries in which it occurs .

however , the survival of the kerry slug is nonetheless threatened because it lives only in completely wild , unspoiled habitat of a particular type : acidic woodlands and moorlands that support the species of lower plants on which the slug relies for food .

this habitat type is itself at risk from a number of different factors , ranging from climate change to the construction of roads .

attempts have been made to establish breeding populations in captivity , to help ensure the survival of this slug species , but with only limited success .

kerry slug

kerry slug <EOT> the kerry slug is found in spain , portugal , west cork and kerry . a new survey , run from

species of the week kerry slug . . . - irish wildlife trust | facebook

offspring of three species of arionid slug , resulting in a loss of ‘species - specific’ colour characteristics . the kerry spotted slug

kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus allman , 1843 ) recorded at lettercraffroe , co . galway

that is the explanation accepted by academics who studied the genetics of the kerry slug .

species of the week kerry slug - . . . - irish wildlife trust | facebook

however , the kerry slug’s habitat can be endangered by “invasive” plants such as rhododendrons .

platts ea , speight mcd ( 1988 ) . the taxonomy and distribution of the kerry slug

freshwater white - clawed crayfish , the freshwater pearl mussel and the kerry slug are protected under the act .

i am currently investigating the influence of habitat and diet on the gut microbiome of the slug with the aim of distinguishing kerry slug populations through microbial signatures .

the kerry slug is not one of our most glamorous species . but biodiversity is not just about glamorous species .

lovely diversity of kerry slug phenotypes . juvenile above shows an intermediate stage between brown and black adult colour morphs . urltoken

the kerry slug or kerry spotted slug , scientific name geomalacus maculosus , is a rare species of medium - sized to large air - breathing land slug . it is a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family arionidae , the roundback slugs . an adult kerry slug generally measures 7–8 cm ( 2 . 8–3 . 2 in ) in length and is dark grey or brownish in colour , with yellowish spots .

unlike many other slug species , the kerry slug is not a pest species and is associated with wild habitats away from the influence of man , according to the npws .

if slugs are your thing , then the kerry slug should be looked out for in wet weather . apparently it is the only slug that can roll into a ball .

measures to protect the habitats of the otter and the kerry slug have been announced by minister for the environment john gormley .

the rare kerry slug - found only in ireland & spain - is a protected species . | snails and slugs | pinterest

the national biodiversitydata centre is trying to improve our knowledge on the distribution of the kerry slug in ireland . should you observe this species , please submit sightings to add to the database . detailed observations will assist us gaining a betterinsight into where the kerry slug

anon , ( 2010 ) threat response plan , kerry slug , geomalacus maculosus . department of environment , heritage and local government .

( kerry slug ) : what are the factors affecting catch returns in open and forested habitats ? ecol res . 2016 ; doi :

drawing of the jaw of the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus . the jaw of this species measures about 1 mm and has broad ribs .

the kerry slug displays a not very common response to disturbance in that it will detach from the substrate and roll into a ball .

the kerry slug is a rare slug that was first discovered in county kerry , ireland back in 1842 . since then they have also been found in parts of northern spain and portugal . they are medium sized slugs that are easy to identify by their spotted pattern .

kerry slugs are found only in wild habitats in both woodlands and heath lands .

for marine slugs , see sea slug . for snails , see snail . for other uses , see slug ( disambiguation ) .

researcher , rory mcdonnell recently visited the múscraí gaeltacht village to search for the kerry slug as part of his research for the npws ( national parks and wildlife service ) to establish the distribution of the kerry slug in the south west . he visited cascade wood and st gobnait ' s wood in baile bhúirne and has spent time on beara including glengarriff where the slug has been found in the past and a variety of location in south kerry .

one wrote : “you look bloody amazing kerry , love . keep it going . ”

and the scheduled bypass for macroom had ar be forgotten about because of the kerry slugs .

i meant before it was flooded . although a bit of an indirect route to kerry .

the forest service , department of agriculture , food and the marine , has published the forestry and otter guidelines and the forestry and kerry slug guidelines on this site .

aidan o ' hanlon on twitter : " lovely diversity of kerry slug phenotypes . juvenile above shows an intermediate stage between brown and black adult colour morphs . … urltoken "

re : working on okenia zoobotryon from : dr kerry b . clark , may 18 , 1998

’the origin of the irish geomalacus maculosus - is the “kerry slug” really a “kerryman” ? ’ oral presentation at the molluscan forum 2013 , natural history museum , london , england .

’kerry slug - recent research findings’ oral presentation at ’the state of insect conservation in ireland’ meeting 2013 , national botanic gardens , glasnevin , dublin , ireland ( invited speaker ) .

' the kerry slug : how should we manage a protected species in commercial conifer plantations ? ’ oral presentation at environ 2013 , national university of ireland , galway , ireland .

the irish yellow slug ( limacus maculatus ) is quite different from the kerry slug ( geomalacus malaculosus ) , albeit for its rather similar name . the first is a keel back slug from the limacidae family , recognizable by the keel at the end of its foot . also its respiratory hole is located in the rear half of its mantle shield . the kerry slug , on the other hand , is a round back slug of the arionidae family without a keel and with the respiratory hole in the front half of the mantle shield . both have in common their spotted exterior and their greenish colour , fitting the island they come from . but most likely on the british isles , the irish yellow slug might be confounded with the yellow slug ( limacus flavus ) .

the part of a slug behind the mantle is called the ' tail ' .

the bottom side of a slug , which is flat , is called the ' foot ' . like almost all gastropods , a slug moves by rhythmic waves of

) a portion of their tail to help the slug escape from a predator .

that ' s a 3d printed shell around a sea - slug mouth muscle .

background information on the kerry slug the kerry slug ( scientific name : geomalacus maculosus ) was first discovered beside caragh lake in co . kerry in 1842 . it is an easily recognizable , spotted , medium sized slug ( up to 9cm in length ) which is unlikely to be confused with any other species . specimens can be brown with yellow spots ( see photo ) or black with white spots ( see photo ) . unlike many other slug species , the kerry slug is not regarded as a pest and is associated with wild habitats away from humans . in ireland this invertebrate ( no backbone ) is protected under the wildlife act 1976 and under the eu habitats directive ( as an annex ii and annex iv species ) . in addition , seven special areas of conservation have been designated for the protection of the species .

the kerry slug ( geomalachus maculosus ) is found only in kerry and nw iberia . along with 15 plant types that occur in ireland and not in brittan the question of a land bridge between iberia and ireland after the 500 year cold snap which happened around 13000 years ago must be asked .

this highway would have seen traffic in the form of not only the kerry slug but humans too who gradually inched north from the south . so the first irish people would have first set up camp of the coast of what is now cork / kerry on now submerged land known as doggerland .

among the six species of snail specifically protected by eu legislation , only one is considered safe in ireland . the kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus ) which is “restricted to sandstone areas of kerry and west cork” , has “a strong viable population and may be capable of expanding its range with global warming” .

. in contrast to the general behavioral pattern , the kerry slug retracts its head , lets go of the substrate , rolls up completely , and stays contracted in a ball - like shape .

mcdonnell rj , gormally mj . a live trapping method for the protected european slug ,

• it’s the name of an environmental musical group , the banana slug string band .

thanks kerry , look forward to seeing your site on west atlantic opisthobranchs finished . . . . bill rudman .

it is an easily recognisable , spotted , medium - sized slug , up to nine centimetres in length , and is unlikely to be confused with any other species . it can be coloured brown with yellow spots , or black with white spots . unlike many other slug species , the kerry slug is not regarded as a pest and is associated with wild habitats away from humans .

’the impact of forestry management practices on the distribution of the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus allman and the investigation of other possible factors limiting its occurrence’ poster presentation at environ 2012 , university college dublin , ireland .

a terrestrial slug between 6cms and 9 cms in length . it occurs in two colour varietys

the little - known kerry slug , which hit the headlines two years ago after getting in the way of a proposed bypass road in ballyvourney , co cork , is about to get back in the news .

reich , i . , o’meara , k . , mc donnell , r . j . and gormally , m . j . ( 2012 ) an assessment of the use of conifer plantations by the kerry slug (

is documented , but varies greatly among slug species . slugs often resort to aggression , attacking both

the irish yellow slug can be found in literature under different synonyms . apart from the systematic name

• it’s the star of several community celebrations , including the nationally–publicized russian river banana slug festival .

slug is required for cell survival during partial epithelial - mesenchymal transition of hgf - induced tubulogenesis .

so just as the road selection process appeared to nearing completion , the route had to be moved and the snail protected . that was duly done – along with excoriation of the environmentalists and ridicule of an innocent spotted slug . the kerry slug can be easily identified because it is the only slug that curls into a ball when poked . one can hardly blame it , given the angry councillors roaming the countryside .

a protected species under eu legislation , the slug was first discovered beside caragh lake , in co kerry , in 1842 . seven special areas of conservation ( sacs ) have been designated for the protection of the species .

" the kerry slug is not one of our most glamorous species , " mr gormley said . " but biodiversity is not just about glamorous species . my department is committed to protecting all species of conservation concern . "

a separate plan aims to protect the kerry slug , geomalacus maculosus , first discovered beside caragh lake in 1842 and described as a species new to science in 1843 . it is a protected species under the eu habitats directive .

free - living slugs were photographed from six sites in ireland across the western counties of galway , kerry and cork ( fig .

bill , there ' s a shot of okenia zoobotryon at : urltoken this site ' s not quite finished , but you can use the image on your site if you like . kerry dr kerry b . clark florida institute of technology melbourne , florida usa

geomalacus maculosus kerry slug a rare slug found only in sw ireland , spain and possibly still in portugal . two colour versions are found , black with white marks in upland habitats and brown with yellow spots in damp woodland . it is a lusitanian species , protected in ireland by the wildlife act 1976 and the eu habitats directive .

reich i , mcdonnell rj , mcinerney c , callanan s , gormally mj . eu - protected slug

mccrone ej , sokolove pg . brain - gonad axis and photoperiodically - stimulated sexual maturation in the slug

how will i know if it is the kerry slug ? the kerry slug has a number of characteristics which make it relatively easy to identify . firstly it is only found in oak dominated woodland and unimproved open moor or blanket bog in co . kerry and west cork . secondly , specimens are either brown with yellow spots ( typical of woodland specimens ) or black with white spots ( typical of peatland specimens ) . lastly , when disturbed , the slug curls itself up into a defensive ball ( see photo ) . we encourage observers to submit a photograph with their records . attach photos to emails and send to info [ at ] biology . ie , ( just remove the square brackets ) .

young ag , port gr , emmett bj , green di ( 1991 ) development of a forecast of slug activity : models to relate slug activity to meteorological conditions . crop prot 10 : 413–415 . doi :

kerry katona has been taking on gruelling workouts in recent weeks and today she flaunted the fruits of her labour in a new photo .

another life : in 1842 , a few years before the famine and while co kerry still had a few native sea eagles to poison , a naturalist named william andrews found a large and unfamiliar spotted slug among mossy rocks beside lough caragh .

threatened invertebrates such as the kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus ) , the freshwater pearl mussel ( margaritifera margaritifera ) , the freshwater white - clawed crayfish ( austropotamobius pallipes ) and the damselfly ( coenagrion lunulatum ) can be found in irish wetlands .

description : concerning its body colour , the irish yellow slug is quite similar to the yellow slug . usually , though , it is a bit darker and more greenish in colour . the spots dispersed over its body are irregular and may sometime melt together . generally , the irish yellow slug has more spots than the yellow slug and they reach further down the body sides . where the spotty pattern is limited at the foot margin by a light coloured zone near the foot margin in a yellow slug , this light coloured zone is missing in an irish yellow slug . between the centreline of the mantle shield and its margin , 23 wrinkles can be counted . an irish yellow slug ' s mucus is greenish in colour and so are its juveniles .

kerry spoke last year about her desire to get into shape , after saying she gained weight following her temporary split from third husband george .

when is the best time to spot it ? the best time to find the kerry slug is on wet , cloudy days when specimens are often seen crawling over bryophyte or moss - covered tree trunks or sandstone outcrops in suitable habitat . during sunny , warm weather the kerry slug takes refuge under bryophytes ( esp . mosses ) , in cracks on sandstone boulders and behind the vegetation at the base of sandstone rocks . surveys at dawn , dusk and during the night in spain have also proved successful .

the effect of these regulations is to add three species of invertebrates namely the kerry slug , freshwater crayfish and freshwater pearl mussel and all species of marine turtles to the list of protected species mentioned in the fifth schedule to the wildlife act , 1976 .

mcdonnell rj , gormally mj . distribution and population dynamics of the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus ( arionidae ) . irish wildlife manuals , 2011 ; 54 . national parks and wildlife service , department of arts , heritage and the gaeltacht , dublin , ireland .

irish yellow slug ( limacus maculatus ) from cambridgeshire , england . picture : brian eversham , ( source ) .

irish yellow slug ( limacus maculatus ) from cambridgeshire , england . pictures : brian eversham , ( source ) .

webley d ( 1964 ) slug activity in relation to weather . ann app biol 53 : 407–414 . doi :

the project is in two phases . the first is to survey suitable areas in cork and kerry to get a distribution map for the species .

. . . historically , within ireland , g . maculosus was thought to be restricted to the devonian old red sandstone strata of west cork and kerry . however , during july 2010 , the species was collected on granite outcrops and on the trunks of conifer trees in cloosh forest , a conifer plantation near oughterard , co . galway ( kearney , 2010 ) . the widespread planting of commercial conifer forestry was originally thought to have had a detrimental effect on populations of given that the kerry slug was not found at the above sites , research focused on the recently discovered kerry slug population in the conifer plantation in cloosh forest , co . galway . . . .

reich , i . , o’meara , k . , mc donnell , r . , gormally , m . ( 2012 ) : ’an assessment of the use of conifer plantations by the kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus ) with reference to the potential impacts of forestry operations’

current known main populations are located in the south west ( cork and kerry ) with a recently ( 2010 ) discovered population in co . galway .

the kerry slug is too recent an arrival , just a few thousand years , so continental drift is not the reason . one of the alternative explanations is that it arrived in the boats of the first settlers in ireland , genetic evidence indicates the people who first populated ireland came from northern iberia . we ' re most closely related to the basques . we brought the slug with us .

monday’s meeting of kerry county council was treated to a re - run of the ‘environmentalist and the snail’ story , with council officials quipping about the ‘snail’s pace’ of the macroom by pass and a healy rae claiming the snail was ‘looking over the ditch’ and laughing at the traffic jams between cork and kerry .

the kerry violet is the common name given to the greater butterwort which sits in the bog lands , digesting any unfortunate insects which fall into its grasp .

the kerry slug gained some notoriety when it was discovered at cascade wood in baile bhúirne diverting the proposed bypass to a different route . despite its high profile little is actually known about the mysterious creature which the south west of ireland shares with spain , portugal and possibly brittany .

reich , i . , o’meara , k . , cush , e . , tierney , f . , mc donnell , r . , gormally , m . ( 2013 ) : ' the kerry slug : how should we manage a protected species in commercial conifer plantations ? '

it wasn’t true . the judicial review that is currently delaying the road has been taken by residents near carrigaphooca castle . the grounds are an error in law relating to the assessment of the impact and rights of way . it has nothing to do with the protected kerry slug .

new roads can isolate and split up slug habitats , along with new building development . land “reclamation” could mean clearing the slug’s upland rocks , and grazing by “escaped” sheep , resident goats and wild deer all threaten the mossy interior of the woods .

] . the mechanisms involved in determining slug colouration most likely vary with species and local adaptations may arise within populations of slugs exposed to different environmental conditions . pigmentation has been explained as a simple mendelian - inherited trait for some species of slug [

, rather than in gardens . their need for wild habitats in one of the reasons the slug has become so rare .

where is it found ? the global distribution of the kerry slug is ireland , spain and portugal and although the species has been reported from france , its presence there has never been confirmed . in ireland , the slug is restricted to west cork and co . kerry . here it is found in two habitat types , oak dominated woodland and unimproved open moor or blanket bog . within these habitats it is only present if there are sandstone outcrops and boulders largely bare of vegetation except for lichens , mosses and liverworts on which the species is thought to feed .

in ireland , the slug is found only in west cork and kerry , as far as is known , and it is hoped the survey , being conducted by dr rory mcdonnell , of university college galway , will determine if it is also present in other parts of the country .

kerry had spent the morning doing an hour of yoga before enjoying an early walk with husband george kay . she told fans she felt “amazing” after her busy morning .

the banana slug has two pairs of tentacles functioning as sensory organs . the upper , longer pair are periscope - like eyestems . the lower , shorter pair ( above the slug’s mouth ) is for feeling and smelling . photo by greg bodi via wikimedia commons .

if the kerr slug made its way from iberia it would have done so along the coast which would have acted as a highway .

kerry slugs are protected in all of the locations that they are found in . habitat loss and loss of some of their favorite foods ( lichens and mosses ) have been hurting the populations of the unique little slug . protection , monitoring , and captive breeding of the species have helped to keep them going .

anatomy : like other slugs the kerry spotted slug has basic organs . it has an internal shell . the muscles of this animal includes muscles that pull the eyespot tentacles back , and have ommatophores as the only eye tentacle muscle darkly pigmented . other muscles include its paryngeal , furacate , buccalbulb , and cephalic reactors .

mc donnell , r . j . and gormally , m . j . ( 2011 ) . distribution and population dynamics of the kerry slug , geomalacus maculosus ( arionidae ) . irish wildlife manuals , no . 54 . national parks and wildlifeservice , department of arts , heritage and the gaeltacht , dublin , ireland .

there are now known to be 46 species of slugs in britain and ireland with 37 confirmed to date in ireland . arion vulgaris is a new arrival in ireland and has the potential to become a serious pest as it spread . in the us it is referred to as the “spanish slug” because of its western european origin and while it appears to be currently restricted to some of northerly mid - west states it appears to be spreading rapidly . the kerry slug

quigley , d . t . g . & k . flannery ( 2014 ) notes and records . plants . an exceptionally large “seaball” discovered on inch strand , co . kerry .

one significant finding was that , contrary to previous opinion , the kerry slug was found in coniferous woodland often at quite high densities . this has implications for the species as it means that there is potentially more habitat for it but that as a legally protected species , the impact of forestry operations need to be mitigated for .

when attacked , slugs can contract their body , making themselves harder and more compact and more still and round . by doing this , they become firmly attached to the substrate . this , combined with the slippery mucus they produce , makes slugs more difficult for predators to grasp . the unpleasant taste of the mucus is also a deterrent . some species present different response behaviors when attacked , such as the kerry slug . in contrast to the general behavioral pattern , the kerry slug retracts its head , lets go of the substrate , rolls up completely , and stays contracted in a ball - like shape . this is a unique feature among all the arionidae , and among most other slugs . some slugs can self - amputate ( autotomy ) a portion of their tail to help the slug escape from a predator . some slug species hibernate underground during the winter in temperate climates , but in other species , the adults die in the autumn .

camouflage implies selective pressure from a visual predator . although passerine birds are known to prey upon a number of medium - large arionid slug species [

the slug is also found in spain and portugal . the species has been reported from france , though its presence has never been confirmed there .

habitat and distribution : on the crimea peninsula , in the caucasus mountains , as well as in bulgaria , the irish yellow slug inhabits deciduous forests . in northern and central europe , on the other hand , the species lives in natural habitats , often in woody places , below stones and fallen logs . contrary to the yellow slug , the irish yellow slug is not a commensal species , but prefers habitats near to nature . on the british isles , however , limacus maculatus is often found in the same habitats , as its relative , the yellow slug . the slugs often hide in fallen logs , often whole tree trunks are covered with mucus . the irish yellow slug feeds on mushrooms , lichens and dead plants .

reich , i . , o ' meara , k . , cush , e . , tierney , f . , mc donnell , r . , gormally , m . ( 2012 ) : ’the impact of forestry management practices on the distribution of the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus allman and the investigation of other possible factors limiting its occurrence’

/ u / seandalai you ' re the divil , when you get behind the keys . it was a sad day for the kerry gastropods , when your lithic tools they did feel .

reich i , o’meara k , mcdonnell rj , gormally mj . an assessment of the use of conifer plantations by the kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus ) with reference to the impact of forestry operations . irish wildlife manuals . 2012 ; 64 . national parks and wildlife service , department of arts , heritage and the gaeltacht . theatr irel .

) are a commercially available biological control method that are effective against a wide range of common slug species . the nematodes are applied in water and actively seek out slugs in the soil and infect them , leading to the death of the slug . this control method is suitable for use in organic growing systems . other slug control methods are generally ineffective on a large scale , but can be somewhat useful in small gardens . these include beer traps ,

the slug mouth muscle comes from a california sea slug , aplysia californica , and was put into a 3d - printed body . sea slug muscles can apparently handle changes in environment better than many other muscles , which is a good baseline to start designing robots around . right now , the robots can only move one direction when stimulated . in future versions , the researchers hope to incorporate more nerves , so they can make the robots move forward and backward .

hand search is the obvious option – “labour intensive , but not excessively so” – if there are certain problems about the underside of large boulders and the higher reaches of trees . while alternatives are assessed , the merits of just looking carefully inspire the kerry slug survey of ireland ( go to urltoken or kerryslug . com ) . here the npws , with dr rory mcdonnell of the applied ecology unit of nui galway , are appealing for volunteer sightings , with photos of the slug’s two colourways to help .

] ) . however , there is also evidence that different colour morphs in slug species can arise as local adaptations to different environmental conditions . while evans [

- tests were used to test whether rgb reflectance values differed significantly between woodland and blanket bog substrate and between each of the two slug colour morphs . students

snail and slug promote epithelial - mesenchymal transition through beta - catenin - t - cell factor - 4 - dependent expression of transforming growth factor - beta3 .

the findings of the first research project have been published as an irish wildlife manual no . 54 [ 4 , 832kb ] . more research is being undertaken with npws funding on the distribution of kerry slug in conifer plantations and the impact of clear felling on these populations . national university of galway is also carrying out research on the diet and genetics of the species .

slug , or land slug , is a common name for any apparently shell - less terrestrial gastropod mollusc . the word slug is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell , a very reduced shell , or only a small internal shell , particularly sea slugs and semislugs ( this is in contrast to the common name snail , which applies to gastropods that have a coiled shell large enough that the animal can fully retract its soft parts into the shell ) .

most people heard of the kerry slug for the first time two years ago , when it was found on the route of a planned bypass road at the cascade wood site , near ballyvourney . environment minister john gormley then agreed to extend a conservation area , so that the site could be saved . that would call for a re - routing of a small section of the road .

branson , b . a ( 1980 ) . " the recent gastropoda of oklahoma , part viii . the slug families limacidae , arionidae , veronicellidae , and philomycidae " .

wherever you find banana slugs , you’ll recognize them when you see them . nothing in the forest looks quite like a banana slug . ( see the accompanying photo . )

the national parks and wildlife service ( npws ) felt confident that the slug was secure and might even expand its range as climate warms . but it had little actual data on how it was faring , especially outside the sac boundaries . as new development began to threaten its iberian populations , the animal was moved up in priority under the eu’s habitats directive . in 2007 , in one of many commission actions against laggardly states , the european court of justice ordered ireland to establish a system of strict protection for the kerry slug , including monitoring of its population .

one of the wonders of kerry is its diversity . coast and mountain is a magical mix and this is one of europe’s whale watching hotspots – even giant humpbacks have been seen in the atlantic waters to the west .

kerry , thanks for reminding me that point reyes has banana slugs . i forgot to include pore in my list the first go - around , but i ' ve taken care of that now . btw , although it ' s totally none of my business , i have to admit that i ' m curious to know what your spouse or significant other thinks of your slug - kissing dispositions .

jordaens k , van riel p , geenen s , verhagen r , backeljau t . food - induced body pigmentation questions the taxonomic value of colour in the self - fertilizing slug

i commented about a banana slug i saw on the stairway from one of the beaches at olympic np . it had black spots and looked a lot like a ripe banana .

meanwhile , kerry said this week that she ' d love a sixth child to add to her brood of five : molly , 15 , lilly - sue , 14 , heidi , max , eight , and dylan , two .

the aim of the kerry slug survey the aim of the survey is to accrue modern records for this internationally important invertebrate with the overall objective of producing an up - to - date distribution map . in ireland , there are five 10km grid squares where the species has not been recorded since pre - 1950 and other areas where the last records are pre - 1980 . the survey will help to address these important

should have the status of a genus on its own . the polish malacologist and slug specialist andrzej wiktor disagrees . in that case , the species would have to be added to the

the mucus secreted by the foot contains fibres that help prevent the slug from slipping down vertical surfaces . the " slime trail " a slug leaves behind has some secondary effects : other slugs coming across a slime trail can recognise the slime trail as produced by one of the same species , which is useful in finding a mate . following a slime trail is also part of the hunting behaviour of some carnivorous slugs . body mucus provides some protection against predators , as it can make the slug hard to pick up and hold by a bird ' s beak , for example , and the mucus itself can be distasteful . some species of slug , such as limax maximus , secrete slime cords to suspend a pair during copulation .

there will soon be some extra space in the family home as kerry ' s eldest daughter molly wants to be a surgeon and will move to ireland to do a transition year . there she’ll be staying with dad brian mcfadden’s parents .

kerry said : “molly wants to be a surgeon . she wants to get really good grades in her gcses so she’s going to ireland to do a transition year . this will give her an extra year of biology and sciences . ”

op is suggesting the existence within the last 20 , 000 years of a direct land bridge from northern spain to kerry . one look at a topographic map of the area would have told him why that ' s utterly and completely impossible

the ring takes in a great variety of landscapes – the famous mountains and lakes of kerry , rolling farmland and rugged heath and moor , ancient woodlandsand some of europe’s most beautiful coastline – and is home to a huge variety of wildlife .

i am looking at the impact of clear felling on the species inhabiting a commercial conifer plantation in connemara , investigating its habitat preferences , abundance and impact on the sympatric slug species lehmannia marginata .

the slime also contains pheremones that help slugs find mates . since the banana slug is a hermaphrodite - - each animal having both male and female reproductive organs – the task is not especially difficult .

ironically , neither the kerry slug nor the castle need have caused any delay to the macroom by - pass , which is at the heart of the intense local pressure to build this road . the castle is 6 kilometres from macroom and the snail more than twice that . the macroom by - pass is actually part of the planned cork – killarney dual carriageway . if the council had settled for a by pass it could have been build 10 years ago .

= 6 of each colour morph ) were sacrificed using chloroform vapour and 1 cm × 1 cm skin samples from the slug mantle ( effectively all the mantle ) were removed following rowson et al . [

“this will be the first full survey in 30 years and we’re asking people to be the lookout for the slug , ” said dr mcdonnell , who is starting work in the glengarriff area this week .

but the road , which would have been part of the 21km macroom bypass project , has been shelved because of budgetary cutbacks . so , slug is safe for a few more years , at least .

body mucus provides some protection against predators , as it can make the slug hard to pick up and hold by a bird ' s beak , for example , and the mucus itself can be distasteful .

a brown and yellow spotted slug curled up into a tight ball so that its head is withdrawn completely , its mantle edge and tail are nearly touching , and none of its foot surface is exposed .

the mucus coating that most folks call slime is certainly a signature attribute . it actually serves many useful purposes . in addition to helping the slug avoid dehydration , the mucus helps the slug slide along the ground on the muscular foot covering its lower body , protects the animal’s soft body from sharp rocks , twigs , and other hazards , and discourages predators with its foul taste and mouth - numbing anesthetic effects .

most mammals native to ireland and long established introduced species are found in the park . the bank vole was first identified in 1964 in northwest kerry . its range has now expanded and now includes the park . pine marten is another notable species in the park .

hesse , the slight darkening of juveniles observed after 84 days of feeding trials in this study is likely to be a natural result of growth . as in some other slug species ( e . g . in

a three - year research project has been completed on the kerry slug , the first of its kind on the species . this has developed a safe method of trapping and locating slugs using baited refuge traps . the project also provided information on the movements of slugs in woodland and on boulder fields . unsurprisingly , the research found that most slugs do not appear to move far . however more information is needed to determine whether the species can recolonise areas it has become extinct in .

reich i , gormally mj , allcock al , mcdonnell rj , castillejo j , iglasias j , quinteiro j , smith cj . genetic study reveals close links between irish and northern spanish specimens of the protected lusitanian slug

( a 180° twisting of the internal organs ) during development . internally , slug anatomy clearly shows the effects of this rotation—but externally , the bodies of slugs appear more or less symmetrical , except for the positioning of the

can a small , slimy , shell - less , forest - dwelling gastropod whose diet includes animal droppings and other dead stuff develop an enthusiastic fan following ? you’re darn right . consider these facts about the banana slug :

. . . free - living slugs were photographed from six sites in ireland across the western counties of galway , kerry and cork ( fig . 1 ) . sites were selected on the basis that previous surveys had found high numbers of kerry slugs in these areas [ 30 , 33 , 34 , 35 ] . forested sites were a combination of conifer plantations and oak woodlands ( fig . 1 : sites 1 , 3 and 5 ) , and open habitats surveyed were blanket bog areas ( fig . 1 : sites 2 , 4 and 6 ) . . . .

its distribution and status in ireland is summarised by platts & speight ( 1988 ) . it is common in parts of west cork , south kerry and north kerry , in areas where acidic devonian sandstone rocks outcrop . its presence there is an old biogeographical puzzle but , along with other so - called lusitanian elements of the irish fauna and flora , it is possible that it was accidentally introduced at an early date by man . in the stone and early bronze ages commerce between iberia and south - west ireland was well - developed and could have provided the mechanism for transfer .

slugs do not have a good public profile and most would consider them at best unpleasant and at worst , pests . the kerry slug cannot be accused of being a pest as it is only found in the wild landscapes of the south and west . the animals themselves are attractively marked with white or cream spots on a black or brown background . black slugs predominate in heathlands , whereas the brown form is only found in woodlands . however this is not fixed and the black slugs can be seen in wooded areas .

scientists assume that the irish yellow slug originally came from the black sea region ( north - eastern turkey , caucasus , crimea peninsula and bulgaria ) . from there it has been introduced in several other parts of the former soviet union . besides , the irish yellow slug , as its name indicates , is present in ireland , as well as in parts of great britain . in continental europe , the species is expected to be found , especially in france .

shirley mdf , rushton sp , young ag , port gr ( 2001 ) simulating the long - term dynamics of slug populations : a process - based modelling approach for pest control . j appl ecol 38 : 401–411 . doi :

the basis for my research is the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus . this species is only found in ireland and northern spain and portugal , exhibiting a typical disjunct ’lusitanian’ distribution . due to this narrow range it is listed as a protected species in article 17 of the eu habitats directive and has further protection under irish legislation . there is a lack of quantitative data on favourable management practices , the habitat size required to sustain populations and genetic variation across its home range , so my work is focusing on closing these knowledge gaps :

irish yellow slug a medium to large slug with pale greenish - grey body overlaid with large irregular dark green markings . keel very short , sole whitish or yellowish . mucus pale yellow to deep orange . tentacles grey to bluish . a common variant has the dark mottling broken up into fine spots which create a spotted appearance rather similar to that of limacus flavus which it appears to displace . a late introduction from south - east europe , now widespread and common .

. ) , demonstrating greater levels of boldness and exploratory behaviour , respectively . such consistent intraspecific behavioural types may also be common to other slugs , and studying their occurrence could have useful practical implications . for example , the grey field slug

during sunny , warm weather the slug takes refuge under mosses , in cracks on boulders , and behind the vegetation at the base of sandstone rocks . surveys at dawn , dusk , and during the night in spain have also proved successful .

we are delighted that you have recognized and publicized our charisma . thank you , thank you ! . . . seriously , though , thanks for your great fun facts on our namesake , the banana slug . keep up your great blog .

large black slug arion ater a large roundback slug varying in colour through browns to black , with a similarly coloured , dull foot fringe and exhibiting a strong rocking response when stimulated . ubiquitous up to moderate altitudes . it is predominantly olive - , yellow - , reddish - to dark - brown or black with sole of more or less the same shade or lighter . a jet black form occurs on peatlands . the foot fringe is lined and coloured a similar shade to the back .

almost as impressive : his laundry list of on - field incidents , from kicking cardinals running back larry centers in the head , to spitting in the face of 49ers wide receiver j . j . stokes , to breaking the jaw of panthers quarterback kerry collins on a vicious helmet - to - helmet hit .

ireland . normally it is found in oak dominated woodland and unimproved open moor or blanket bog . within these habitats it is only present if there are sandstone outcrops and boulders largely bare of vegetation except for lichens , mosses and liverworts on which the species is thought to feed . ' we need to get the public involved in this survey to extend our knowledge of the kerry slug ' s distribution within ireland ' says dr . rory mc donnell , applied ecology unit , national university of ireland , galway . ' this is an easily identifiable slug ' says rory , ' with two colourations , both with spots . they are either brown with yellow spots , typical of woodland specimens or black with white spots , typical of peatland specimens . lastly , when disturbed , the slug curls itself up into a defensive ball . we encourage observers to submit a photograph with their records . rory heads up the collaboration between the national parks and wildlife service ( npws ) the applied ecology unit at the national university of ireland , galway and biology . ie .

snails ' veliger larvae already have primordial organs of an adult snail , such as eyes , tentacle stumps and the shell lid ( operculum ) . there is also a shell , which is reduced later in shell - less ( slug ) species .

’ geomalacus maculosus : why is this lusitanian slug species thriving in a commercial forestry plantation 200km north of its previously known distribution ? ’ oral presentation at the world congress of malacology 2013 , ponta delgada , sao miguel , azores islands , portugal .

andrews managed , however , to get his specimen to another young naturalist , george allman , graduating in medicine at trinity college . after some dissection , allman introduced the slug to science as a new species , geomalacus maculosus , or “spotted earth mollusc” .

the more we learn about banana slugs , the more we come to appreciate that their presence enriches and helps to stabilize the ecosystems they inhabit . by feeding on detritus , they help to recycle nutrients and make them available for new growth . slug excretions not only provide nitrogen - rich fertilizer , but also help to disperse spores and seeds needed for forest plant regeneration . since the banana slug’s ecological niche is not yet fully understood , we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that there are other praiseworthy contributions .

partial map of ireland showing survey sites ( black circles ) inside the distribution range of g . maculosus ( shaded area ) . conifer ( 1 ) and blanket bog ( 2 ) habitats at oughterrard , co . galway ; conifer habitat at tooreenafersha , co . kerry ( 3 ) ; blanket bog habitat adjacent to uragh woods , co . kerry ( 4 ) ; oak forest habitat at glengarriff nature reserve , co . cork ( 5 ) and blanket bog at leahill bog , co . cork ( 6 ) . black squares show the locations of galway , cork and dublin cities for reference . map modified from g . kindermann , 2016©

today , its range in kerry and parts of cork is mostly on moors and in woods between the mountains , from killarney west to the dingle peninsula . the humid air and high rainfall of the region lets it roam among the rocks of open bog and lake shores ( where it is generally greeny - black with creamy white spots ) , as well as in the oakwoods ( where it is more typically ginger , with yellowy spots ) . it shares with its spanish and portuguese ancestors an affinity with old , weathered rocks , such as kerry’s acid red sandstone , with rich rugs of lichens , mosses and liverworts for both food and shelter .

there are many species of sea slugs in irish waters that are usually only seen by scuba divers . however , sometimes a few get washed up on the shore and are easily overlooked once they are encrusted in sand . the internal shells of the sea slug