HOMING BY THE SLUG LIMAX-PSEUDOFLAVUS

The nocturnal movements of the terrestrial pulmonate slug Limax pseudoflavus Evans were observed under laboratory conditions in dim red light. Slugs introduced into a tank in a home brick always returned to the brick. In experiments with air currents slugs left home downwind and homed upwind. Individuals did not necessarily follow their outward routes home and were able to return to an established home in a clean trailless tank. These results imply distant chemoreception. The animals nevertheless, often followed trails made by themselves and/or other individuals for a while so that preferred routes tended to be set up. It would seem therefore that at least two mechanisms of homing are potentially available and that at least two pheromones are involved. © 1979.