Dinner time !

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Dinner time !
Photo Information
Copyright: Valerie Schnepp (valy67) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1314 W: 52 N: 1773] (5238)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-02
Categories: Molluscs
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 18mm-55mm f/3.5 - f/5.6
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Feeding Time [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-06-06 3:47
Viewed: 959
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
This year, because climate is wet and rainy, there are a lot of slugs and snails everywhere - much more than last year. In the garden they are a real pest, eating everything, but in the forest I like to see them. This one was very big (more than 10cm), and a strange grey color which I never saw before on a slug. I don't know exactly which species it is. It was eating a mushroom, probably some kind of Boletus, but I'm not sure.

Slugs are gastropod molluscs without shells or with very small internal shells, in contrast to snails, which have a prominent coiled shell.

Most slugs eat leaves, fungus, and decaying vegetable material, but some are predators and most also eat carrion including dead of their own kind. Frogs, toads, snakes, hedgehogs, and some birds and beetles are natural slug predators. Slugs, when attacked, can contract their body, making themselves harder and more compact and thus more difficult for many animals to get a hold. The unpleasant taste of the mucus is also a deterrent.

Slugs produce two types of mucus: one which is thin and watery, and another which is thick and sticky. Both are hygroscopic. The thin mucus is spread out from the centre of the foot to the edges. The thick mucus spreads out from front to back.
Mucus is very important to slugs as it helps them move around, and contains fibres which prevent the slug from sliding down vertical surfaces. Mucus also provides protection against predators and helps retain moisture. Some species use slime cords to lower themselves on to the ground, or suspend from them during copulation.

Some slugs are notable garden pests and there are various methods of controlling them (see Pest control of slugs), such as slug pellets, beer traps, salt, physical barriers and biological pest controls.
dew77, jcoowanitwong, aido, scottevers7, jmp, red45, thistle, gerhardt has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To thistle: Carpathian blue slugvaly67 1 06-08 04:07
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-06-06 3:54]

Hello Valerie,
Excellent capture.Colors,details,POV,sharpness,framing and composition are wonderful.Very well done!
TFS..:-)

Hello Valerie,
Nice catch on this one. Clearly seen with all perfect settings. Good composition and pov. TFS
JC

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1103 W: 173 N: 1227] (4038)
  • [2006-06-06 5:10]

Hi Valerie,
I think something that is not often seen on TN, but a Slug still has his (or her!) place in the grand scheme of things. Excellent shot, wonderful clear detail and great colours. I like the little green shoot in among all the rotting leaves. It's almost a complete little ecosystem you have in one photograph, excellent work.
Regards,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • Dan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 111 W: 0 N: 338] (1655)
  • [2006-06-06 6:03]

Salut Valerie, very interesting image. I never saw a slug like this one. The photo is well done, sharp and vivid color. Bravo! Dan

Hi Valerie,
WOW! that is one very big slug! I agree, as long as it is not in my garden, it looks great. Very good colors and detail in this shot.
Well done.
Scott

Hello Valerie, Excellent Job, Perfect details, BG, POV, DOF, great perfect colors, TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1898 W: 94 N: 2375] (8394)
  • [2006-06-06 10:44]

Hi Valerie,
A very descriptive shot of the wheater you have there. Color, composition and motifs very appropriate!
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2741 W: 75 N: 7390] (24735)
  • [2006-06-07 2:26]

Bonjour Valerie!
Sorry for no critiques last times, but I was very busy. Nice picture. I like both - fungi and snails/slugs, especially during walks in rainy day. Good composition with dried, brown leaves. I like it!

Hello Valerie,
We have lots of these fellows here. They are rather seen only in forests and they are quite big. Ours are called Carpathian Blue Slugs (Bielzia coerulans), so I don't really know if they can be found in your region. You would have to check, maybe it some kind of similar species?
Anyway, the picture is very good. Has nice details and that special "moist" forest mood.
VERY WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-06-07 4:48]

Hi Valerie,

Nice example of this slug in his natural environment. Good well exposed colours and sharp details. I like the brown leaves adding some colour to the shot. These are quite common in the UK, especially in my garden, they think it's a local dining area. Anyway well done and TFS.

Dean.

Hi Valerie,
Wow, what a super sharp photo. Such beautiful details throughout the entire photo. Colors and DOF are perfect. I really like the action you've caught in this photo.
You seem to be loving your camera, and the camera likes you too.
TFS,
Niek

Amazing... I can actually see where it took a bite. Very nicely done.

Bonjour Valérie
C'est une excellent prise de vue en macro avec cette petite limace parmis ce beau tapis de feuille! La Composition est très belle avec de belles couleurs, et très beaux détails. Merci pour le partage .
Au revoir et merci....JP

Hi Valerie,
Interesting situation!
First time I see a snail in the middle of a meal, macro work is well done and lets me fully enjoy the capture...
Good details and fine colours, well done!
Greetings,
Pablo -

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