Anatomy
Snails are gastropod mollusks characterized by their spiral shells and soft bodies. Garden snails typically range from 1-4 inches in size including their shells. Their most distinctive features include:
- Soft, muscular foot for movement
- Upper tentacles with eyes
- Lower tentacles for smell and touch
- Rasping mouthpart (radula) for feeding
- Produces protective mucus trail
- Single muscular "foot" for locomotion
Reproduction Cycle
Snails are hermaphrodites and both partners can be fertalized during mating. Laying eggs in moist soil the life cycle of a snail can be broken down into three stages:
- Eggs: Eggs can hatch with in 2 to 4 weeks, with dry soil causing eggs to fail
- Juviniles: when hatched they are born as a snail however their sheel are soft. eating the eggs the will seek calcium to harden the shell typically lasting a few weeeks
- Adults: typical adults will only live for 2 years with one in captivity lasting up to 10 years
Social Aspects
Snails are rather social and when in capticity have been shown to exhibit social hyerachies. wild snails social behaviors include:
- They will follow trails left by other snails
- Communal mating habits forming groups
- Sleeping in large groups
Treatment Options
- Sulfur-based slug baits
- Diatomaceous earth
- Beer traps can draw the sainls in
- A small pot turned upside down can drawn in snails seeking cover
- Natural predators (Chickens and wild birds)
