Slugs AIDGAP
Identification, understanding and control
Slugs AIDGAP is an identification guide to the slugs of Britain and Ireland.
- Covers all 46 slug and semi-slug species
- Species-level identification of living specimens in the field (where possible)
- Fully illustrated with colour photographs for each species showing upperside, underside, colour variation, juveniles and sub-adults
This richly illustrated full-colour guide provides comprehensive, picture-based identification charts and species accounts for 46 slug and semi-slug species now known from Britain and Ireland. It includes advice on recognising the pest species and their control in gardens.
Slugs have a notorious reputation as plant pests but many species have more varied ecological roles. The British and Irish slug fauna has changed rapidly over recent years as exotic species join the native wildlife. While researching for the book the authors set out to find all 36 known UK species, they were surprised to come across several they did not recognise. Although slug species can vary enormously in appearance, and several are difficult to identify, further work, including molecular analysis, confirmed that they were distinct species.
This slugs guide is part of the FSC’s AIDGAP series (Aids to Identification in Difficult Groups of Animals and Plants). The aim of AIDGAP series is to produce accessible keys suitable for non-specialists from age 16+. Although written by specialists, all AIDGAP guides go through field tests in draft form. As with all guides in the series, the Slugs AIDGAP underwent extensive testing before publication, by beginners and specialists alike. The author has revised this, the first published version, in the light of the testers’ experience.
