The presence of a species of slug among "the most harmful in the world for crops" has been observed in Martinique with increasing frequency since the beginning of the year, announced this month a note from the Center for Exotic Species Resources. invasive (CRE-EEE).
The species spotted, named Leidyula Sloanii, "is native to Jamaica but it was most certainly introduced in Martinique with exotic plants", advanced this Thursday Régis Delannoye, expert in malacology (the study of molluscs), on l local RCI radio antenna.
Also known as the "pancake slug" due to its light mottled appearance, the gastropod has been spotted in at least four towns in the northern half of Martinique.
"We can see that it is already starting to spread," warned Régis Delannoye.
Disease vectors for humans
This slug, "the largest (...) observed in the Caribbean" according to the CRE-EEE, has been living in Florida as well as in Guadeloupe for more than ten years where it is considered "a real plague" according to the scientist.
"In our country, it attacks the trunks of banana trees, causing disease," laments Régis Delannoye, claiming to have even seen it attack "a cactus".
In addition to the damage it causes to crops, the presence of this slug constitutes a health risk for human beings because it can be a “vector of parasitic diseases (…) causing meningitis (which can be fatal)”.
Table salt or tobacco dust as well as molluscicidal powders are used to control its population in the other islands where it proliferates.
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