After an overnight rainfall but before the predicted arrival of cold air and strong winds, I encountered this Carolina mantleslug (Philomycus carolinianus) grazing on a wood ear jelly fungus (Auricularia auricula) along Piney Woods Church Road. This jelly fungus is evidently edible, according to my field guidebooks; related species of wood ear fungi are commonly used in Chinese cuisine. I cannot vouch for it personally, though. And I definitely cannot address the question of this slug’s edibility, or the viability of this particular combination in a luncheon sandwich.
