FIELD STUDIES OF HOMING IN THE PULMONATE SLUG LIMAX PSEUDOFLAVUS (EVANS)

Excursions of Limax pseudoflavus (Evans) were recorded over9 days using time lapse cinematography. Excursions were madeat night, ending before sunrise, and were significantly morefrequent in wet than in dry weather. The homes of these slugsare species rather than population or individual specific. Animalstended to home upwind but the direction in which they left homewas not significantly correlated with wind direction. Trailfollowing may be involved in homing. All but one example ofhoming may be interpreted in terms of distant chemoreception,rheotaxis and trail following. Using these mechanisms alonea slug's best strategy for feeding and homing is discussed. (Received 15 March 1979;