New sightings of invasive, potentially dangerous slug in two Coast counties
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- Coast counties report 40 sightings of invasive black velvet leatherleaf slugs.
- Slugs may carry parasites like rat lungworm, which can infect mammals and pets.
- Experts urge removal using salt, traps or freezing to reduce potential health threats.
Three new sightings of the invasive black velvet leatherleaf slug have been reported on the Coast in April and May, bringing the total of reported sightings to around 40 since it was first found locally in 2011..
This year, two reports came from Jackson County, with one report from Harrison County.
Experts urge caution around the invasive slug, which is capable of carrying parasites that can infect humans.
The matte-black slug, native to South America, can grow up to 3.5 inches in length according to Texas Invasive Species Institute Research and Education Director Ashley Morgan-Olvera.
“It’s very different from any native slug species that we have, which tend to be black with spots and slimy in appearance,” Morgan-Olvera said “That matte black really helps this slug stand out.”
Rat lungworm concerns
Beyond being a nuisance in gardens, the slug is able to spread parasites such as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, or rat lungworm. Rat lungworm can infect mammals such as dogs, cats and humans.
“This slug has the ability to transmit parasites that we don’t need in our ecosystem,” Morgan-Olvera said.
If a slug ingests rat lungworm larvae, commonly found in the feces of infected rats, it can become infected. The parasite can then be transmitted to mammals that ingest the infected slug or consume produce contaminated with the slug’s parasitic slime.
“We did a parasitic study of these black slugs and we found that the black slugs did carry Angiostrongylus parasites in Texas,” Morgan-Olvera said. “The data isn’t necessarily there for every state in the southeastern United States, so it’s best to be careful around these slugs and to remove them from your property.”
Mammals infected by rat lungworm may suffer from neurological symptoms such as light sensitivity, vision changes, paralysis, nerve damage and other complications. However, not every slug is infected with rat lungworm.
“The slug itself is not a parasite, and if you see it, it does not mean you have these parasitic worms,” Morgan-Olvera said.
“Usually you’ve got to consume them or something like that for it to be passed to you,” Mississippi Entomological Museum Director Dr. JoVonn Hill said.
Experts encourage prevention
Morgan-Olvera recommends using diatomaceous earth in gardens, wrapping copper wire around the base of key plants, setting up beer or bread dough traps or investing in organic slug bait to help prevent these invasive slugs.
According to Morgan-Olvera, the best way to remove these slugs is by smashing clear eggs, pouring salt on the slugs, putting them in a container and throwing them away or putting them in a container and freezing them.
“What we’re asking the public to do right now is to remove any that you see in your yard,” Morgan-Olvera said. “If everyone can just take care of their own area, it can have a really significant impact.”
“It’s going to be a hard thing to actually control, especially without killing a lot of our native slugs,” Hill said. “I wouldn’t be afraid of it, but I would certainly make note of it.”
