3/26/2023 0 Comments Snail vs slug![]() ![]() There’s no magic wand to make slugs or snails disappear but by following this simple plan you can greatly reduce their damage. Confirm the presence of snails or slugs by setting out a few beer traps. Look for the signs above, visit the garden in the early morning or grab a flashlight and check your plants at night. ![]() A semi slug has a shell that’s too small for its body to fit into. Since our slimey friends most often do their work at night and hide during the day it can be difficult to know what’s going on. Main Differences between Slug and Snail In Point Form Snails have spiral shells whereas slugs lack a shell Snails are either terrestrial or aquatic while. A snail has a shell on its back that’s big enough for its entire body to fit in. Large slugs can quickly devour a leaf by taking row after row of small bites. Tiny scalloped edges like the photo below.Holes in hostas, lettuce, asparagus, the flowers of spring bulbs and many other plants.Seedling leaves completely gone with only a small stem remaining.Traces of silvery slime on chewed leaves or along the ground. ![]() Damage during the spring before many insects are active.Large, ragged holes in tender leaves and flowers.Snails in particular can seriously damage citrus trees. Slugs are also quite capable of burrowing into the soil by following decayed plant roots, cracks, worm tunnels and along boards surrounding raised beds. These pests are also excellent climbers and can be seen quite high in plants. In warm and wet climates slugs and snails can be active all year. During the day they hide in dark, moist sites under decaying leaves, low growing plants, dirt clods, pots or debris. They are most active throughout the spring, early summer and again after autumn rains begin. These pests do most of their damage at night and on wet, cloudy days. Marcie was new to growing but any gardener or homeowner in a damp climate has probably experienced the damage caused by slugs and snails. Now, instead of tender shoots ready for thinning, Marcie saw that some plants were completely gone! Others had ragged leaves full of holes or had bites missing around the edges. Last week they had looked so promising – little green gems that were sprouting new leaves and growing vigorously despite the rainy weather. Everything, that is, except her row of new lettuce seedlings. The sun was shining, dew sparkled on the grass and all was right with the world. That’s the call we got one spring morning after our young friend Marcie ventured out to check her garden. ![]()
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