Belocaulus angustipes explained

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.

Parasitism

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

Notes and References

1. Belocaulus angustipes (Heynemann, 1885) . 1064167 . 20 December 2018 . molluscabase.
2. Web site: Capinera. John L.. White. Jodi. Terrestrial Slugs of Florida (Mollusca: Stylommatophora: Veronicellidae, Phylomycidae, Agrolimacidae and Limacidae). 1 November 2024. 3 January 2022. Publication #EENY-494. Originally published June 2011. Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. 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. 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. 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. 19265989. 2620629.