Re:Snails

Chris Goedhart (goedhart@dordt.edu)
Wed, 14 Apr 1999 09:34:57 -0500

Since no one on the list has suggested the possibility of using
decollate snails, Rumina decollata,to control the common brown garden
snail, Helix sp., I will make the suggestion. They do provide excellent
snail control in suburban home and roadside settings in Southern
California. Although they cause some feeding damage to plants in the
absence of their host, my past experience in a home landscape setting in
S.Cal. is that they cause far less damage than the typical garden snail.
In California the use of decollate snails is restricted to certain
counties for reasons outlined below. See the following link and
information.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn028.html#Natural Enemies

Snails and slugs have many natural enemies, including ground beetles,
pathogens, snakes, toads, turtles, and birds (including ducks, geese,
and chickens), but they are rarely effective enough to provide
satisfactory control in the garden. A predaceous snail, the decollate
snail [79K], Rumina decollata, has been released in southern California
citrus orchards for control of the brown garden snail and is providing
very effective biological control. It feeds only on small snails or
slugs and not on full-sized ones. Because of the potential impact of the
decollate snail on certain endangered mollusk species, it cannot be
released outside of Fresno, Kern, Madera, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange,
Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura or
Tulare counties in California. It is also not recommended for garden
situations because the decollate snails may feed on seedlings, small
plants, and flowers.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Chris Goedhart e-mail (goedhart@dordt.edu)
Chair, Agriculture Department phone# 712.722.6276
498 4th Ave NE fax# 712.722.1198
Dordt College, Sioux Center IA

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