I know, you must be thinking I've lost my mind!
What on earth - good snails?
She's cracked it good this time!
LOL
You know by now I really dislike using any type of chemicals in my garden,
not only because of our pets but for us too.
I prefer to keep the ''garden in balance'' using natures methods,
for every bad bug there's a beneficial bug just waiting to devour it.
That's not to say I get discouraged from time to time
and feel like tossing a grenade out there and just be done!
Yep, those nasty crawly, slimy snails eat
just about anything in sight!
They love my Hollyhocks,
one time I counted 5 on one stem.
I try to go out every morning and pick snails.
Sometimes I stomp, squish, smash....
BUT
I don't have to do that too much anymore.
The herd has dwindled. (Happy Dance!)
The herd has dwindled. (Happy Dance!)
These that we see so frequently are the common Brown Garden Snail (Helix Aspersa) a terrestrial gastropod mollusk - one of the best known species in the world.
To say this guy gets around is an understatement!
Last year I started noticing different types of snails in my gardens.
I thought 'Oh great, they've sent word out to ALL their cousins!
They're having a garden party!'
Figuring I wouldn't have much of a garden left,
I threw my hands up in despair and went in the house.
Had a conference with myself,
then decided to research these new visitors.
A Decollate Snail
(Rumina Decollta)
My new best friend here ventures out at night to quench it's voracious appetite for garden snails, slugs, and their eggs.
They live for about 2 years and lay 200 eggs per year!
Woo Hoo!
Yippee ki yay!!!
Woo Hoo!
Yippee ki yay!!!
As they age the tip of the shell breaks off indicating adulthood.
At about 1 inch long they must have a good metabolism to eat all they do
I was out pulling weeds and came upon a graveyard of sorts
eww
There was a piece of scrap wood laying over the hoses that hadn't been picked up.
When I picked it up I was surprised to see all these empty garden snail shells.
I think the decollate's found someone's hiding place....
Unbelievable! SO happy!
It just goes to show you that given time and a lot of patience
for every ''bad bug'' there is a ''good bug'' that comes along (eventually) to help keep the garden in check.
(ok ok it took them 25 years to find me, but they finally did! )
While researching I was surprised to find that you can purchase Decollate Snails at several online garden stores.
Who even knew there were predatory snails of other snails?
Other posts you may be interested in:
Happy Gardening!
Wow! I didn't know there were so many different snails! I just grow flowers, and most are in hanging baskets - I haven't seen any snails near my garden.
ReplyDeleteKeep 'em hanging! LOL No idea here either, when I first saw the new ones I was stomping on those too! Yikes! Thanks for stopping by ♥
DeleteI used to have just slugs. Now I have land snails, too. I love the tip about putting out saucers of beer for the slugs to drown in. At our house, a saucer of PBR is a GUARANTEE that it will rain tomorrow and water down my cheap beer! Glad to know there is another solution. Several years ago, I got a mad on during a rainy season, took a frosting tub and an extra pair of spaghetti tongs and filled the tub with slugs, put the lid on. Done!
ReplyDeleteYep, that's the way to do it! If I see any during doggie pick up, guess where they go? LOL those grabbers are good for reaching! LOL
DeleteI love snails, but I'd never seen those with the elongated shells before.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining The Really Crafty Link Party this week!
They were new to me too! Thanks so much for hosting ♥
DeleteThat is an awesome turn of events! had no idea there were carnivorous snails. Fascinating! I’m glad your garden is doing well.
ReplyDeleteMichelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com