Five new introduced terrestrial slugs in Hungary

Abstract

Five terrestrial slug species are reported from Hungary, either for the first time or confirming earlier records that had been considered unreliable: Limacus maculatus, Deroceras invadens , Ambigolimax valentianus , Ambigolimax parvipenis , and Milax nigricans . In all cases identification was supported by anatomical examination and barcoding sequences of the COI mitochondrial gene. For M. nigricans we also sequenced individuals of this species from Italy and France so as to establish differences to sequences of M. gagates . Most records came from garden centres in Budapest and from two botanical gardens; these habitats may therefore be crucial in the spreading of non-indigenous species. A Facebook appeal was used to involve citizen scientists in searching for further sites for L. maculatus , but the Limacus populations reported proved all to be L. flavus . Studies over the last four years have added altogether seven slug species to the 26 hitherto recognised in the Hungarian fauna. This demonstrates the importance of continuing to check for additional introduced species.