Susceptibility and immune response of Deroceras reticulatum, Milax gagates and Limax pseudoflavus exposed to the slug parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita

We exposed three slug species (Deroceras reticulatum (Müller), Milax gagates (Draparnaud) and Limax pseudoflavus L.) to the parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita Schneider. P. hermaphrodita was able to cause mortality and feeding inhibition to both D. reticulatum and M. gagates but did not negatively affect L. pseudoflavus. On dissection of surviving L. pseudoflavus large numbers of P. hermaphrodita were found encapsulated in the shell of the slug. We found that by increasing shell size, the slug was able to trap invading nematodes, which could be an immune response to P. hermaphrodita invasion. This is the first report of a slug defense mechanism to inhibit P. hermaphrodita.     

Species-specific Detection of Predation by Coleoptera on the Milacid Slug Tandonia budapestensis (Mollusca: Pulmonata)

Tandonia budapestensis is one of the most damaging species of slug in the UK , and can cause major losses in potatoes and cereals . No previous attempts appear to have been made to investigate the potential of natural enemies to control this slug . Monoclonal antibodies can be used to analyze the crop contents of predators collected from the field , in order to detect and quantify the remains of major pest species and identify important natural enemies . A species - specific antibody was therefore raised that could distinguish between T. budapestensis and all other molluscs tested . The antibody could detect as little as 5.57 ng of prey protein in an enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay . It could clearly identify the remains of T. budapestensis among the crop contents of the carabid Pterostichus melanarius for more than 26 h at 16 o C , while the half - life of the antigen within the predator was 12.8 h . Such intervals make it a highly suitable antibody probe for quantifying predation during the previous day . The only serious cross - reactivity problem was with earthworms . The antibody can now be used to test predators collected from the field to see if they are indeed consuming this slug , or whether , as suggested by feeding trials , adult T. budapestensis are to some degree toxic to beetles and therefore avoided .