Saw this dark, glossy thing gliding across my garden path. It has a pale stripe down its back and moves smoothly like a leech rather than inching like a worm. It looks totally foreign. What is it?

to confirm identification. Avoid barehanded handling, cutting it, or relocating it elsewhere. Inspect pots and soil before moving plants, and avoid indiscriminate pesticide use. Where the species is nonnative, report the sighting and follow official management guidance. A careful response helps protect the garden without harming its other inhabitants.continue reading …