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Cousin of the slugs, they have a rather different behaviour. In gardens where snails abound, we generally find very few slugs, and vice versa. Nevertheless, they also cause real problems!
The symptoms
They are the same than those caused by slugs. As the slugs, snails leave behind traces of mucus. They also leave droppings, which allow us to make the difference between the two, without even seeing them, with a little bit of experience of course. In looking closely at the attacked plant, we usually find the snail responsible. If you do not find anything, it means that is it caused by a slug or another pest.
Lifecycle
Snails can live quite a long time Nevertheless, when they get to adult age, they do not create as much damage. They abound in stony places and in chalky soils and reproduce during summer. Some snails eat dead matter (some even consume wet paper).
How to fight snails
We fight snails and slugs in the same way, using granules based on iron phosphate, which is nevertheless, not completely efficient. Buried traps (filled with beer) are efficient. It is best to avoid using them in areas where there are many ground beetles (Carabus), useful insects, natural predators of slugs and snails and an endangered species. (They too also drown in the beer). In dry weather, snails go into a prolonged rest period and it is therefore not efficient to look at trapping them.
Snails, as slugs can be fought using a natural predator, a nematode parasite called Phasmarhabditis. Expensive (several Euros per m² treated), this treatment is efficient providing it is done following exactly the manufacturer’s indications. It has to be renewed periodically, as snails and slugs from the surrounding area will return.
How to avoid them
Shelled molluscs appreciate piles of stones, walls and any other hard material on which they can glue themselves. It is therefore advisable to avoid the use of such materials close to sensitive areas, (such as garden vegetables or borders filled with tender plants). In gardens frequently visited by birds, it is a good idea to leave a few highly visible flat stones, the Song Thrush comes in to break the snail’s shells, which she hunts down in the garden, and this gives these stones their name "Thrush forge"!
Good to know
It not a good idea to throw the snails over the fence into your neighbour’s garden, Contrary to popular belief, snails are highly mobile (as slugs) and they can walk 100 m in only a few days. When in your neighbour’s garden, it is only a question of time before they get back to your garden. In any case, it is a very strong possibility that you neighbour is only doing the same! - Photos (1)
Snails
Snails
Author: Jean-Michel Groult
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