An amorous Spanish slug is invading Britain and mating with native species to create "superslugs" which threaten to ruin gardens and crops this summer, experts fear.
The six-inch long cannibal, which breeds at twice the pace of its British cousins, is immune to common control methods and can eat up 20 slug pellets without being harmed.
Known officially as the Arion vulgaris, it is classed in the top 100 invasive species in Europe and alongside crops they have been found eating dead mice, dog mess and even each other.
The slugs, which are believed to have arrived on salad leaves, were first spotted in the UK in 2010 but were wiped out by cold weather.
Now not only are they munching their way across the country, but it is feared that they are mating with native species to create "superslugs" which can survive in both hot and cold climates.
Dr Leslie Noble, from the University of Aberdeen, said any Anglo-Spanish hybrids are highly fertile and could breed the native species out of existence.
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