Observation: Black Slugs were never in Alaska, I have done some research and it showed that just recently in the Prince William Sound Area. This slug comes from the British Isles and is mainly in the Northern part of Europe. It thrives in wet cool climates, that is why it was all comfortable here in Goodnews. I don't know how this bug had gotten here and why it is here but it is an invasive specie. So far geologist are still debating the on whether or not this bug is a pro or con to the environment. They do not know much about this slug. I would like to know if this slug is harmful to the environment.
Alaska Department of Natural Resources Consult: Jacquelyn Schade, State Survey Coordinator (SSC) provides a brief history of the mollusk survey, she writes, "This survey is a continuation of the Snail and Slug surveys conducted throughout Alaska from 2007-2011, which is funded by the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program. The Alaska Division of Agriculture started a survey of exotic snails and slugs in 2007 in an effort to determine the extent of exotic terrestrial mollusks in the state as little work prior to this effort had been conducted. We surveyed coastal communities in Southeast Alaska in 2007, South-central communities in 2008, the Anchorage Bowl, and Matanuska Valley communities in 2009, Southwestern communities in 2010, and the 2011 survey focused on communities in Southeastern Alaska that had not previously been surveyed. Surveys to date, 2007-2011, have identified two genera of non-native slugs (Arion and Deroceras) and several species of Arion including a first record of A. circumscriptus. The large black slugs that have been detected previously referred to as the Arion ater, or European Black Slug, have been determined to be part of the Arion ARVC complex (Ater Rufus Vulgaris) by APHIS identifiers. Introduced snails of the species Cochlicopa and Oxychilus have also been found, but don’t appear to be spreading to new locations.
Due to how the CAPS program runs their fiscal year, my current mollusk project ends June 30, 2016. After that time, I will not be able to accept mollusk submissions for identification because I will have nowhere to send them. I am working on another mollusk survey that would start July 1, 2017, however that project has not even been submitted for approval yet. If you are interested, I would be happy to keep you informed if we are able to do another mollusk survey.
To preserve/submit slug and snail samples:
Put the slug or snail in a vial, fill the vial with water (preferably distilled, but tap water will do just fine), get out as many air bubbles as possible and put the lid on. Leave the slug/snail in the vial until drowned (12-24 hours). The slug/snail will just float around in the jar once it has died.
Once dead, preserve the slug in a vial with 70% ethyl alcohol. If you do not have access to ethyl alcohol, one option would be to send the slug to me in water. For this, you would need to place the slug in the mail ASAP after collecting the sample.
One slug or snail per vial.
To submit the sample for this survey, mail sample to: 1800 Glenn Hwy, Ste 12 / Palmer, AK 99645
Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program in Alaska (.pdf) - Jacquelyn Schade, SSC - Alaska Department of Natural Resources
LEO says: We wonder if this might be a Taildropper Slug (*Prophysaon sp.). These are a native species which have been recorded by CAPS in Haines, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Wrangell, but to the best of our knowledge not in Goodnews Bay, until now. Anita Atakitlig, Environmental Program Manager - Jun 24, 2016, just found some here in Togiak! I thought if Goodnews Bay has them then Togiak has to have them! Traditional Council of Togiak. This observation has been added to the LEO Slug Watch Project.
Observations From Members 