Snails

Snails

Snails have a conspicuous hard shell that they withdraw into when threatened. These creatures move on a large slimy, muscular foot and leave characteristic slim trail. Snails are active from spring to autumn; usually hiding under hedges and on cool damp places during the day.

They feed at night, especially during damp weather. The garden snail (Helix aspersa) is the most common pest, with a gray brown shell up to 1 ¼ in. (3cm). Banded snails (Cepaea nemoralis) are not normally a serious pest. There shells have white, yellow, gray, or pink bands with darker strips, or are sometimes entirely pale yellow.

Susceptible Plants- A wide variety of plants, particularly seedlings and young plants.

Symptoms- Snails eat irregular holes in roots, stems, bulbs, tubers, buds, flowers, fruit, and leaves. Seeds fail to come up and seedlings are eaten. Most of damage caused by snails is at night.

Prevention and Control- Do not grow very susceptible plants near locations like walls, rocks, and wood piles, places where snails usually hide.

Use a range of techniques to protect susceptible plants, especially when young. When sowing seeds, water the bottom of the hole, then cover with dry soil.

Encourage quick germination and growth of seedlings and young plants. Plant out sturdy indoor-outdoor transplants rather than sowing directly. Water in the morning; damp soil and plants in the evening encourage slugs and snails. Do not mulch young plants.

Protect individual young plants with plastic bottle cloches. Hoe regularly to disturb slime trails that may be used by other slugs and snails to locate edible plants. Dig in winter to expose snails and eggs to weather and predators.

Use traps baited with beer, milk or grape juice, ensure the lip is raised ¼ -1 1/4 in (2-3 cm) above the soil surface to avoid trapping beetles. Surround susceptible plants with bran; remove snails found in it.

Provide alternative food such as cabbage or lettuce leaves preferably under bricks or slates to keep them moist- when transplanting into an empty bed. Encourage natural enemies such as frogs, toads, beetles, and centipedes which prey on snails.

DE Diatomaceous Earth is odorless and nontoxic and looks like white powder. It is composed of finely milled fossilized shells of minuscule organisms called diatoms.The microscopically fine, sharp edges desiccate the slugs exoskeletons upon contact, and the pests dehydrate and die within hours.

Biological Control- Decollate Snail Rumina are benificial snails that will destroy destructive brown snails.

Back