PEST PROFILES: SLUGS AND SNAILS
Picture of Snail

Picture of Snails

Click on image to view larger.
Brown garden snail

Description:
Adult shells have 4 to 5 whorls and are 1 - 1 á inches in diameter. They are large, globose with fine surface wrinkles. It is yellowish with chestnut brown spiral bands. The aperture is crescent-shaped or oval-crescent-shaped, approximately one half the shell diameter, and has the tip turned back.

Damage:
Brown garden snail is a general feeder and will probably attack anything in a greenhouse. Large ragged cavities are made in leaves and they may totally consume seedlings. Low growing plants generally suffer the most damage, but this snail can climb to feed.

Life cycle:
Eggs are oviposited in a nest 1 - 2 inches deep in the soil. Each snail oviposits an average of 85 eggs. Eggs hatch in 2 to 4 weeks. Low temperatures (< 53.6ÉF) and low humidity inhibit snail activity. During warm, damp weather, oviposition may be monthly. Peak activity period is February to October. When dry conditions prevail, the snail may seal itself to an object or close off the aperture of the shell with parchment-like material.