Snailsare an important link in the chain of organic changes taking place in nature, therefore, as long as they do not decimate our crops, they should be tolerated. Sometimes, however, the scoop changes and you have to declare a ruthless fight.
Snailsfound in native fauna are divided into two types: shelled (with a shell) and naked (without a shell). The first ones are not considered to be extremely dangerous, although in fact they cause damage, the best example of which is the vine. However, it is not them, but naked snails that are a real nuisance for gardeners. These mollusks do not like the sun and high temperatures, so they live in hiding places.They prefer to hide under piles of planks, among stones or simply buried in the ground. They like damp and shady places, especially those densely overgrown with shrubs. These mollusks are often found also in roadside ditches, in a humid environment near ponds and streams, and even in an urban environment - in sewage wells or damp cellars. Because they hide, they can enjoy relative freedom for a long time. They forage at night or after rain, usually in groups. The presence of these pests never bodes well, because the mollusc army has to feed on something.Snailsbite out irregular holes in the leaves and bore canals in the roots. In this way, they can quickly destroy the effects of many weeks of cultivation work. Laying eggs takes place in the second half of the year and depends on the course of weather conditions, the amount of food and population density.
One of the most dangeroussnails nakedisSpotted SlugDeroceras reticulatum.This species is 3-5 cm in size and is common not only in gardens, but also in wet meadows and parks. The pomrowik causes serious damage to house crops and plantations. The hatching of the young takes place, among others, in the spring after the eggs hibernate.
Even more dangerous than the spotted slug aredroolTwo species should be mentioned here:giant salivabrown, brown, black or red body and confusingly similar to itLusitan daggerreddish in color. Both species reach a size of about 15 cm and are very active in spring. Therefore, the sooner we start fighting them, the better. TheLusitian Bib , brought to Western Europe in the late 1960s from the Iberian Peninsula, is particularly expansive. Currently, he is gaining more and more positions also in Poland, mainly in the south of the country. However, the observations made show that this dangerous mollusk may soon take over northern Poland as well.It is favored by the local lack of natural enemies and the gradual warming of our climate.Lusitan daggerlikes to live in moist places rich in food. It often destroys entire cabbage, lettuce and strawberry crops. How to effectively deal with them? It should be noted that not all ecological methods of controlling snails bring the desired effect. Setting up beer traps only makes sense if the crops are additionally surrounded by an anti-screw fence. Setting traps in an open space is often counterproductive and in practice doubles the number of snails in a given area. The smell of beer also attractssnailsfrom the neighborhood. The undoubted downside of beer traps is that beneficial organisms also catch them.
A bedding of coffee grounds (or ash) has a low preventive effect, because it limits the influx ofsnailsonly to the first rain. Large naked snails overcome such obstacles without the slightest difficulty, sometimes even eating them. Lusitan daggeris not able to hold back pellets, sawdust, needles or aromatic plants. Partial success can be achieved by watering the plants with water containing nematodes, which penetrate the body of snails as deadly parasites. The success is partial, as the nematodes only neutralize the Spotted Slug.
Deciding to fightsnailsecologically, you have to be patient. In this unequal battle, the scales of victory tilt in our favor only after many months.
The natural enemysnailsare low temperatures. Unfortunately, although frost decimates adults, it does not destroy the eggs. Therefore, in the face of the plague, we should resort to other, more effective methods.
Extremely measurable effects are achieved thanks to the regular loosening of the ground with a hoe. However, this must be done all year round. Hoeing, which is best done in the fall after the first frosts, and in spring, when the ground is softened, brings the eggs to the ground, where they either freeze or are eaten by birds.We should also remember that regular loosening of the soil to a depth of about 20 cm destroys the hideout snails ( snailscannot dig, so they irretrievably lose their shelter). Additionally, it is worth growing snail-repellent plants in your garden.
The lures provide fast and effective help in the protection of already started crops. These can be rotten boards, old clay bricks or, finally, large leaves of plants that are spread out in the vicinity of the crops to lure themsnailsThen there is nothing else but to collect them. However, this method is effective only before the growing season, because later, that is during the season, the slugs nest in the lettuce heads, which they do not leave anymore.The bibscan be exterminated with this technique all year round.
Compost, in whichsnailsmultiply en masse as a lure. A good method, although very expensive, is to fence crops with copper metal bands, because the snails avoid contact with copper.When the fight with ecological methods does not bring the expected results, it remains to reach for chemical preparations. Forsnail exterminationyou can use such preparations as: Ślimakol 06 GB, Anty-Ślimak Spiess 04 GB, Ślimax 04 GB, Ślimak-Stop 47 FG, as well as Mesurol Alimax 02 RB and Mesurol Schneckenkorn 04 GB.
Naked snailshave several natural enemies. Even the Lusitan glands tremble in front of them. The slayers of these mollusks are hedgehogs, lesser ciliates, birds, and even toads. In order to create the best possible conditions for their adaptation, we should plant hedges and pile piles of brushwood in the garden. Lizards and slowworms also contribute significantly to the destruction of snails, as they best acclimatize within dry walls, as well as beetles that eat snails and their eggs. Molluscs are also a tasty morsel for chickens and ducks.
