Rare ghost slug discovered in Exeter garden

They are usually found in mountain forests in Ukraine.

The Devon Wildlife Trust says a rare mollusc has been spotted at Cricklepit Mill, in the middle of urban Exeter.

It’s thought to be the first time the slug has been found in Devon. The species was first reported in the UK in 2008. Since then there have been a scattering of ghost slug sightings, mainly from South Wales, in and around Cardiff.

The slug which can measure up to 7 or 8cm in length, is a distinctive, ghostly white in colour. Even its eye stalks and eyes are white, indeed Ghosts Slugs are thought to be blind. It’s these unusual looks which have given rise to the name, Ghost Slug.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Steve Hussey said:

“We’re not sure how the Ghost Slug found its way into our garden. It may have been introduced on plants, soil or compost brought in from elsewhere.

We were lucky that an experienced ecologist was on hand to make the identification. This species may be present in other Devon locations but because it isn’t easy to spot and because little is known about it, it may be that they are under-recorded elsewhere.” 

People suspected of seeing a Ghost Slug should take a photo of the slug and send it along with the exact location of the find (including a postcode or map grid reference to) and time/date to Devon Biodiversity Records Centre via their website www.dbrc.org.uk/wildlife-sightings/