Thursday, February 23, 2012
   
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Snails & Slugs

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.


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