Habitat modification, trapping, handpicking, barriers, and baits are all management options. Snails and slugs are best managed with a combination of tactics. Their slime trails may remain for days on rocks, sidewalks or the painted siding of houses. These pests feed on leaves, flowers, stems or roots of plants by scraping off the tissue or eating holes in the leaves or flowers. They can climb trees or the side of a building. Snails and slugs are able to move easily over almost any object.
They are active at night or on damp, dark days. They normally hide during the day to avoid the sun and can be found under pieces of wood, plants, pottery, rocks, fallen leaves or mulch. However, many snails are capable of living well in relatively dry conditions. Snails and slugs require some moisture for survival.
Slug vs snail full#
Some snails may take 2 years to become full grown. There is a tendency for young slugs and snails to stay close to the place where they were hatched and return there each morning. Most snails and slugs that hatch in the spring can begin egg laying in the fall. Immediately upon hatching the young begin to feed and can reach sexual maturity in three to five months. Under favorable conditions eggs will hatch in about 1 month. Their eggs are globular and often gelatinous, and can be very tough and resistant to heat, cold and drying. Land snails and slugs lay masses of eggs on substrates like plants or in the soil. Snail shells provide protection from predators and during periods of excessive heat and dryness. Shells in Texas snails range from about 1/4 inch to over 3 inches (0.62 to 7.5 cm) in diameter, and are usually off-white to brown or black in color. Snails have a hard spiral shell on their backs while slugs lack external shells completely. Snails and slugs have similar bodies and both are protected by the mucus that they.
The species in Texas grow to lengths of about ½ inch to 4 inches (1.25 cm to 10 cm). Their eyes are carried on the ends of stalks or appendages on the head.
Snails and slugs are best managed with a combination of tactics.īoth slugs and snails have fleshy, soft, slimy legless bodies that range in color from whitish-yellow to black most are mottled with shades of gray. Their soft bodies and slimy appearance make them repulsive to many people, but actually they are quite fascinating creatures. However, they leave slime trails where they crawl which can be a clue to their presence. Snails and slugs may be difficult to detect because they are active primarily at night. The most destructive snails and slugs are often introduced exotic species. Their preference for succulent foliage makes them serious pests of seedlings, herbaceous plants, and fruit ripening close to the ground, e.g., tomatoes and strawberries. They feed directly on foliage and fruit which is the main concern and damage from these molluscs can be severe. Many land snails and slugs are pests in landscapes, vegetable gardens and greenhouses when they feed on plants.
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