Getting up close and personal with "slugs"!

I never happen to understand the difference between a slug and a catterpillar, untill I take notice of a slug feeding on plant leaves. For me anything that destroys a plant leaves are known as caterpillar. But when I found a slug,I found out how it is different from others. First of all both a caterpillar and a slug are leaves predator. They can be found scrolling on plant leaves and as it happen, I get hold one slug on my succulent leaves.

It is quite common for many individual to associate a plant based insects as catterpillar. But the way they stroll are enough to differentiate them from a slug. Infact I was too unaware of existence of slug. Slugs use their file like mouthparts, called a radula, to rasp and chew plant tissue, which creates irregularly shaped holes in leaves, flowers, and fruit. Slugs are most likely to feed on soft, fleshy leaves and seedlings, and they often feed at night. To my surprise I found them very early in the morning in one of my terrace plant. May be it forget to hide itself.

Slugs are similar to snails, but without a shell. Slugs can range from 1/4 to 5 inches in length, depending on the species. A slug is a small, soft-bodied, shell less gastropod mollusk that is closely related to snails. Slugs have two pairs of tentacles, with the upper pair used for sight and smell, and the lower pair used for feeling and tasting. They also have a tongue-like organ called a radula, which is covered in tiny tooth-like protrusions called denticles. Finding them so close, I could not resist to take photos, and ended up multiple shots. Here is collection differrnt shots.

This slug appears to be very aggressive. It alwsys charges me whenever i tried to get nearer. It started to scare me with their tentacle in the front. But as soon as I get back, it gets normal. It's pretty hard for me to find whether it is male or female. It was quite soft on skin and move slowly on the plant. It happens to be on one of succulent plant on my terrace. It was a pretty welcome sight early in the day, but very interesting to learn the difference of these plant predators.

Peace !!

Namaste @steemflow

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