Hatching eggs of Arion hortensis
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Hatching eggs of Arion hortensis
Eggs of the garden slug, Arion hortensis, photographed five weeks after they were laid, August ( Norfolk UK ).Slugs are members of the Pulmonata within the class Gastropoda; they breathe air through a rudimentary " lung" within the mantle. The eggs of A. hortensis are laid in batches of 20-50 in damp situations and take a few weeks to hatch at normal ambient temperatures in late summer. A. hortensis is a widespread pest of gardens, feeding on tender foliage. The picture shows part of a batch of eggs of A. hortensis that was laid in the soil within a flower pot. There are two newly emerging slugs, one (above centre) with eyes and tentacles visible. The eggs are 5mm in diameter. A baby slug takes one year to attain its full adult size
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6346171
© DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Garden Pest Tentacles Garden Slug
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the delicate process of life emerging from its hidden sanctuary. The image showcases a cluster of hatching eggs belonging to the notorious garden slug, Arion hortensis. Photographed in Norfolk, UK, five weeks after being laid in August, these eggs are on the brink of releasing their minuscule inhabitants into the world. Slugs, members of the Pulmonata within Gastropoda class, possess a rudimentary "lung" within their mantle that allows them to breathe air. A. hortensis lays its eggs in batches ranging from 20 to 50 in damp environments and requires several weeks to hatch under normal ambient temperatures during late summer. Considered widespread pests for gardens due to their fondness for tender foliage, A. hortensis can wreak havoc on carefully cultivated plants. This particular snapshot reveals part of an egg batch nestled within a flower pot's soil. Notably, two newly emerging slugs are visible—one with discernible eyes and tentacles at the center-top position. Measuring just 5mm in diameter, these tiny orbs hold immense potential as they harbor future generations of this garden pest species. It is worth noting that it takes approximately one year for a baby slug like those depicted here to reach full adult size—an impressive journey lies ahead for these newborns. Jeremy Burgess skillfully captured this momentous occasion through his lens—a testament to nature's intricate beauty and perpetual cycle of life unfolding before our very eyes.
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