Snails, despite their harmless appearance and common presence, can become unwanted eyesores in gardens and orchards. Learn more about them. what do snails eat and the most effective methods for prevent its appearance This article will allow you to better care for and protect your crops and ornamental plants. This article delves deeply into snails' diet, their habits, the reasons behind their proliferation, and, above all, offers ecological and practical solutions to control and combat their presence, integrating all relevant and up-to-date information in the sector.
Snails' diet: What do they really eat?
Snails belong to the group of gastropod molluscs and, for the most part, are herbivoresThis means they feed primarily on living plant matter, although they have a surprisingly varied diet. Their preference for fresh vegetables makes them especially problematic in vegetable and garden plots, but their diet may include:
- Tender leaves and young shoots: Lettuce, chard, spinach, cabbage, lamb's lettuce, clover, thistle, hostas, and other tender foliage plants are among their favorites.
- Fruits and vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, apples, pears, bananas, grapes, cucumbers, squash, broccoli, escarole, and melons.
- Flowers and stems: Particularly young flowers, green stems and buds in formation.
- Algae and fungi: Land snails explore moist or mossy surfaces in search of algae and decaying organic matter.
- Decaying wood and plant debris: They provide a source of minerals and fiber.
- Occasionally, animal remains: Some snails may exhibit scavenging behavior and consume the remains of dead animals, such as earthworms or slugs, especially to absorb essential minerals.
- Soil rich in debris: They can ingest soil to obtain nutrients, especially calcium and other minerals, if they experience nutritional deficiencies, which are essential for the formation and strengthening of their shell.
The diet of snails is very diverse.. In the domestic or farm environment, it is recommended not to limit their diet to lettuce alone, as a rich and varied menu provides them with better health and growth conditions. In addition, it is essential to ensure they have access to calcium-rich sources, such as crushed eggshells, ground limestone, bone meal, oyster shells, or dried leaves, as a Calcium deficiency is evidenced by soft, brittle, or broken shells.
How do snails feed? The step-by-step process
Snails have a mouth equipped with the radula, a rough organ covered with thousands of tiny teeth. This organ allows them to scrape, cut, and shred leaves, shoots, and other plant parts. Their slow but efficient chewing leaves the plants smooth, wide-edged holes, a characteristic sign of their presence, different from the damage caused by other insects.
Su sense of smell is highly developed, unlike their limited vision. They detect food from a distance, especially in humid environments, and can travel long distances (up to 12 meters) at night in search of food.
La mucus that they secrete not only allows them to glide easily, but also helps them avoid abrasive surfaces, protect themselves from predators and maintain a humid environment necessary for feeding without becoming dehydrated.
Diet of snails in the wild, gardens, and aquariums
land snails
- Fresh and decaying plants: As mentioned before, they prefer tender leaves, shoots and fruits, but they can also consume dry plant matter, bark and surface roots.
- Fungi and algae: They add to their diet when vegetation is scarce or the environment allows it.
- Soil and stones: To obtain calcium and other essential minerals.
Aquarium snails and aquatic environments
- Algae: They scrape algae from glass and water surfaces, performing a cleaning function in the aquarium.
- Remains of dead plants: Decaying plant matter, fish food scraps, or even small dead organisms.
- Scavenging behavior: Like their terrestrial relatives, some aquatic snails consume animal remains if available.
In the aquarium, their presence in controlled numbers is positive, as they help keep the environment clean and decompose organic waste. However, an excess of snails usually indicates overfeeding of the fish or an accumulation of plant debris.
What plants do snails NOT eat? Repellent plants and growing strategies
Avoiding snail infestations in your vegetable or garden doesn't mean giving up your favorite crops. plants that snails avoid due to their aroma, flavor, or texture, and growing them strategically can help protect your most delicate vegetables and flowers. Some of these include:
- Lavender
- Kratom
- Rosemary
- Mustard
- Begonia
- Geraniums
- Nasturtium
- Horse tail y fern (especially useful as mulch in humid climates)
In addition to serving as natural barrier Against snails, these plants beautify the garden and provide biological diversity. Creating strips or circles of snail-repellent plants around the most vulnerable crops can significantly reduce the risk of infestation.
Factors that favor the appearance of snails in the orchard and garden
The proliferation of snails is directly related to the environment in which they are found. humid and shaded environments They are especially attractive to them, as moisture is essential for their survival. Factors that promote their appearance include:
- Excessive watering or water at night, which keeps the soil moist for longer.
- Accumulation of plant debris (fallen leaves, branches, weeds) or elements that create wet shelters.
- Little disturbed soils, where it is easy for snails to lay their eggs.
- Mild temperatures and frequent rains.
- Lack of natural predators in the environment.
To minimize their presence, it's helpful to keep your garden clean, avoid overwatering, and monitor damp and hidden areas. You can also check out our section on garden maintenance tips to improve conditions and reduce their proliferation.
Prevention: Effective and ecological methods to avoid snails
- Physical barriers:
- Ash, crushed eggshells, crushed shells, coarse sand, or ground coffee: their texture is unpleasant to snails, who avoid moving on them.
- Place copper strips around flowerpots and planting beds. Copper generates a mild electric shock when it comes into contact with slugs or snails, acting as a repellent.
- Special plastics, sheets or nets can protect specific crops.
- Humidity control: Change sprinkler irrigation to drip irrigation and watering in the morning limits excess surface moisture.
- Keep the soil clean and tidy: Remove plant debris, turn over the soil, and eliminate damp and shady shelters regularly.
- Introduction of natural predators: Frogs, lizards, beetles, salamanders, chickens, ducks, hedgehogs, and turtles can help control snail populations, including those in the garden or orchard.
- Use of repellent mulches: Like fern or horsetail, especially recommended in humid climates.
Treatments and solutions if you already have a snail infestation
When the presence of snails and slugs becomes a pest, it is essential to act quickly to save your crops and plants. There are several ecological solutions and natural treatments:
- Manual removal: The most ecological and simple option for small gardens or orchards. Snails are usually active at night or after rain. Wear gloves to collect them directly from the plants.
- Traps:
- Classic traps: At night, place lettuce leaves, pieces of melon, watermelon, potato, or orange rind, or shallow dishes of beer in humid, shady areas. In the morning, remove the attracted snails.
- Traps with bags soaked in beer: Cover a piece of cloth with beer, protect it with a tile, and check in the morning.
- Use of protective bottles: Cut open plastic bottles or jugs and cover delicate young plants.
- Vegetation cover outside the critical area: Create areas with less valuable vegetation that act as bait for snails and remove them when they gather there.
- Feeder plants: Plant lettuce or chard as a “trap” to attract snails and remove them manually.
- Powders and natural products: Use diatomaceous earth around plants, which acts as an abrasive barrier and does not harm other organisms.
- Avoid chemicals and opt for green solutions: Chemical repellents or snail poisons can negatively affect other animals, the soil, and the crops themselves. Opt for solutions like Ferramol, a ferric phosphate-based product with a low environmental impact.
Snails and health: Can they be dangerous?
Although snails are mostly harmless to humans, some species can carry parasites, such as the eosinophilic meningitis, which can cause illness if handled carelessly or consumed without proper cooking. It's essential to always wear gloves when removing large quantities of snails and to prevent children from playing with them or with slugs directly.
Common mistakes when fighting snails
- Improper irrigation: Watering at night or excessively encourages the proliferation of snails.
- Incorrect waste management: Keeping plenty of decomposing organic matter in the soil increases the availability of food for snails.
- Indiscriminate use of chemical poisons: It harms the ecosystem, can have dangerous side effects, and is not always effective against the root of the problem.
- Neglecting the introduction of natural predators: Failure to leverage ecological allies limits short-term solutions.
What to do with the removed snails?
Once collected, you can feed them to farm animals such as chickens, ducks, or hedgehogs, who will happily consume them. It is not recommended to release them into other natural areas, as you may (unintentionally) contribute to the transmission of diseases or unbalance the local ecosystem.
Understanding snails' diet and habits is essential for preventing and controlling their appearance in your vegetable garden, garden, or even aquarium. With natural techniques, physical barriers, and the inclusion of repellent plants, you can protect your plants in an ecologically and sustainably way, maintaining the balance of your small ecosystem.