H. Reise et al., The ecology and rapid spread of the terrestrial slug Boettgerilla pallens in Europe with reference to its recent discovery in North America, VELIGER, 43(4), 2000, pp. 313-318
The terrestrial slug Boettgerilla pallens Simroth, 1912, is reported from t
wo sites on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the first records for this
Palaearctic species in America. This paper describes how to recognize the s
pecies, and summarizes European studies of its ecology. It is unusually wor
mlike in appearance, lives mostly underground, and occurs in a very wide ra
nge of habitats. This century the species has spread remarkably far and fas
t across Europe from the Caucasus. This is demonstrated by a table of first
occurrences in each country, and by three case studies of spread within Gr
eat Britain, Belgium, and north-west Austria. We predict that it will sprea
d rapidly in North America, and may already occur more widely, but there is
no evidence that it will become an important pest.