Decollate snail (Rumina decollata)
Decollate snail: This species will prey upon the
Brown Garden Snail
and is sold as
a beneficial predator, however, if there are no garden snails to feed upon it can become a
serious pest of emerging seedlings and bedding plants.
Snails
and slugs move by gliding along on a muscular "foot." This muscle constantly
secretes mucus, which later dries to form the silvery "slime trail" that
is a clue to the presence of these pests. Slugs reach maturity in about
a year. Snails and slugs are most active at night and on cloudy or foggy
days. On sunny days they seek hiding places out of the heat and sun; often
the only clue to their presence is their silvery trails and plant damage.
Snails and slugs feed on a variety of living plants as well as on decaying
plant matter. Managing snails and slugs involves a combination of strategies,
such as handpicking, habitat modification, barriers,
traps,
baits, and commercial molluscicides.
One
popular type of do it yourself bait is beer traps
Barriers:
Snails
and slugs do not like to cross barriers made of certain metals. Copper
strips around the base of a container or as a protective ring at the base
of the plant has been proven helpful.
Barriers
of diatomaceous earth, sand or ashes provide only temporary control.
Have
a Snail or Slug control question?
Post it on IPCO Message Board
Links:
Slugs
UCSC
Biology 150: Mollusca/Gastropoda
Baits
The
Official Pacific Northwest Slug Page
Slugs
& Snails
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