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| Technical Bulletins- Decollate Snails |
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Rumina decollata
Decollate Snail
Target Pests:
Helix aspersa (European Brown) garden snail. White garden snail. There
are more than 40,000 species of snails and slugs throughout the world.
They are survivors and adapt well to almost any climate. They can be
found everywhere including trees, ponds and streams even in salt water
shorelines. They seem to especially love flower and vegetable gardens.
Snails can do major damage to a garden in one night because each snail
has hundreds of small teeth. They shred their food, mainly plant material
(including flowers), by means of a ribbonlike organ, called the radula,
that is covered with hundreds of these small teeth and it seems like
they always have an appetite.
Description:
Decollate snails are easy to differentiate from brown snails. The beneficial
killer snails have conical shells and grow to about 2" - 2 1/2" long
while adult brown snails have 1" - 1 1/2" semi-circular shells.
Decollate means "to behead". Decollate snails are fearsome carnivores,
pursuing their gastropod cousins and burrowing into their fleshy body cavity
until they are consumed. These killer snails will actually attack brown
garden snails and eat them and their eggs. Once the Decollates have attacked
all the pest snails, they will then feed on leaf litter (decomposing organic
material).
Product information:
Adult Decollate snails are sold in quantities of 50 or 100. Our snails
are shipped in paper containers or pouches. During shipment Decollate snails
will Epiphragm. Epiphragming is a protective mechanism used by the snails
for survival during periods of hot or cold. To activate the snails for
release, place them in a bucket or pan, run cool water over them, drain
off excess water (do not leave the snails emerged in the water) and place
them in a shady location for 20-30 minutes until they emerge from their
shells. To prevent escape during activation, cover the container.
The US Department of Fish and Game limits the release of Decollate snails
due to certain areas having local snails that are on the endangered species
list. Currently the release in California is limited to the following counties,
Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa
Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties. The release of the Decollate snails
elsewhere is restricted or prohibited. Check with your local Ag department.
Release Rates:
Among the best places to release decollates are under irrigated perennial
shrubs or ground covers where there is a rich supply of organic matter.
Under each shrub, release 3-5 snails or 100 per 1,000 sq. ft. of planter
area. Problem snails will be reduced quicker if plenty of snails are released.
To facilitate growth and reproduction: keep the release site damp, hand
pick large brown snails from the release site often.
Lifespan:
The Decollate snails are nocturnal predators and are rarely visible during
the day. They usually burrow into the soil during the day and emerge at
night to prey. They normally do not eat healthy plant material nor do they
climb walls, fences etc. Decollate snails have been used here in the United
States since the 1930's in the Agricultural Industry. The Decollate snail
lays eggs every 30 days and each snail lives approximately 2 years.
Strategic Considerations:
Snail Bait will kill Decollate snails. Allow 3-4 weeks after using commercial
snail bait before you release Decollates. |
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