First records of the bean-slug Sarasinula plebeia (Gastropoda: Veronicellidae) in Argentina

Abstract

Sarasinula plebeia is a common land slug in tropical and subtropical areas, including South America. This species is known as Bean-slug but considered a pest of great importance in numerous crops, horticultural facilities, plant nurseries, and garden. Also, it is a natural host for nematodes that cause parasitosis in different countries. We report for the first time the occurrence of Sarasinula plebeia in Argentina, based on material collected in the provinces of Chaco and Misiones, extending the distribution of the species in South America to 34 terrestrial ecoregions.

Species identification of introduced veronicellid slugs in Japan

“…wallacei : Gomes & Thomé, 2004 ; Gomes et al, 2010 ), and South America ( Sa. plebeia : Brodie & Barker, 2012b ; Daglio et al, 2020 ). However, it is also possible that Japanese populations are not derived from these species’ native regions, and they may have been sourced from other areas they have been introduced (see Table 1 for non-native ranges).…”

“…The family Veronicellidae is a group of terrestrial slugs with 23 recognized genera and 78 recognized species ( Thomé, 1975 ) that are globally distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics ( Gomes et al, 2010 ; Hirano et al, 2019d ). In many countries and regions, these slugs are often found in human-related environments such as greenhouses and gardens ( e.g ., Brodie & Barker, 2012a ; Ali & Robinson, 2020 ; Daglio et al, 2020 ). They feed on the leaves and stems of crops, defoliating and often killing plants ( Rueda et al, 2002 ; Naranjo-García, Thomé & Castillejo, 2007 ; Constantino, Gomes & Benavides, 2010 ; Daglio et al, 2020 ).…”

“…In many countries and regions, these slugs are often found in human-related environments such as greenhouses and gardens ( e.g ., Brodie & Barker, 2012a ; Ali & Robinson, 2020 ; Daglio et al, 2020 ). They feed on the leaves and stems of crops, defoliating and often killing plants ( Rueda et al, 2002 ; Naranjo-García, Thomé & Castillejo, 2007 ; Constantino, Gomes & Benavides, 2010 ; Daglio et al, 2020 ). Some of the species are medium-to-high risk pests for humans.…”

“…Although there is no native slug that can be confused with these veronicellids in Japan, identifying veronicellid species by their external morphology is difficult and unreliable because there is substantial overlap between intraspecific variation and interspecific differentiation ( Cowie, 1997 ; Kim et al, 2016 ; Hirano et al, 2019d ). Internal morphologies such as the shape of the penile complex, the penile gland, and an accessory structure to the penile complex have been the main ways to identify veronicoelids ( Gomes & Thomé, 2004 ; Daglio et al, 2020 ). Nevertheless, among the three species introduced in Japan, Lae.…”

Terrestrial Slugs in Neotropical Agroecosystems

“…The Integrated Pest Management Project of Zamorano University (with financial support from USAID) conducted many studies to find suitable management practices to control S. plebeia. Sarasinula plebeia is believed to be native to the Americas despite its widespread distribution throughout tropical regions (Daglio et al, 2020). Andrews and Dundee (1987) studied the historic reports of the species and concluded that it was accidentally introduced to El Salvador, from where it spread throughout Central America, causing havoc to Central American farmers.…”