Species associated with strawberries are gray and about 1 inch long when fully grown. Immatures resemble small adults. Winter is spent as immatures or adults in sheltered areas or in the egg stage. Eggs are laid in masses of 25 or more in moist places from spring to fall. The eggs hatch in about a month if temperature and humidity are favorable.
Most species mature within a year.
They feed in the evening or on cloudy days and remain hidden on sunny days. They will feed on virtually any organic material they can ingest, including young seedlings and succulent portions of plants. Damage to strawberries consists of large, irregular areas eaten from leaves and berries. Thinning the plants in the bed to open the canopy and dry the soil will deter slugs to some extent. Removing mulch and reduced watering are also helpful.