(Gastropoda)
Biology:
Snails are molluscs with a calcareous dorsal shell, which can be shaped into various shell forms, but can also be absent in some species (nudibranchs). The animals have a broad, creeping-soled foot and use it to move along a mucus trail. Snails have a pair of short and long, retractable tentacles on their heads, at the tips of which are the eyes. The land-dwelling snails are bisexual animals (hermaphrodites) and depend on a moist environment. They are therefore only active in damp weather and mostly at night. During the day and dry periods, they spend their time in moist hiding places in the soil, under stones, in tall grass, etc.
Damage:
Slugs and snails feed on a wide variety of plant parts. Some of them have a very high food requirement and can cause significant damage to crops, ornamental plants and vegetable gardens by feeding on plants, even causing them to become bare.
In horticulture, slugs from the families Arionidae (slugs) and Limacidae (leech snails) are the main pests. The most important species, in addition to the Spanish slug(Arion lusitanicus), are thereticulated slug(Deroceras reticulatum) and the garden slug(Arion hortensis).
Snail infestations can occur particularly in damp and warm years or on wet sites.
