It is possible to identify individual Limax maximus from their natural
mantle markings. You need to photograph each individual & look for patterns
unique to it. I am not familiar with Geomalacus maculosus, but if it has any
patterns on its mantle, it may be possible to use those to distinguish
individuals from each other.

Aydin
snailstales.blogspot.com

On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:56:51 +0100, Rory Mc Donnell <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>Hi all,
>I am wondering if any list members have tried marking slugs for
>mark-capture-recapture studies. If so what techniques did you use? I
>am aware of the following study:
>http://mollus.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/eyn012v1
>but am curious to know if other techiques are available.
>Also do list members have any experience of using traps to catch slugs
>which keep specimens alive until the traps are emptied? Myself and
>some colleagues have used simple baited traps (Friskies(R) canned cat
>food covered with a black plastic refuse bag pinned at each corner and
>left overnight) successfully in Kentucky. This method resulted in a
>lot of pest species (e.g. Arion, Deroceras) being collected but native
>US species such as Pallifera and Philomycus were not collected at all
>by this method. I suspect this is because these species feed on mosses
>and lichens and were not attracted to the bait. I am now hoping to
>trap Geomalacus maculosus in Ireland which also feeds on fungi,
>liverworts and lichens and I am wondering if list members have any
>suggestions on trapping methods?
>Thanks in advance
>Rory
>
>--
>Rory Mc Donnell PhD
>'Marie Curie Fellow (2006-2009)',
>Appled Ecology Unit,
>Centre for Environmental Science,
>National University of Ireland,
>Galway, IRELAND
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
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