![]() ![]() Snails, famously, live in a mobile home that is produced by an organ called the mantle, a thin layer of multi-tasking tissue that secretes the limey material that hardens into the shell. Around 80% of Mollusks are Gastropods, and some 75% of Gastropods are aquatic, dwelling in fresh water, in oceans or in the brackish marshes that form a lip between land and sea. As a class, they are second only to class Insecta, based on the number of species, (they are a distant second-there are a million-plus named insect species, and some scientists feel there may be another million awaiting discovery). That number, subject to argument, may go as high as 200,000 when all the outlying Gastropods are rounded up and identified. The numbers: there are some 100,000 species in the class Gastropoda worldwide, and a very diverse bunch they are. North America boasts more than 500 species of freshwater snails. Gastropods began life in the ocean, some 500,000,000 years ago, plus or minus, and today’s representatives are found from deep ocean trenches to mountain tops and from deserts to mudflats to gardens. Under the Great Mollusk Umbrella, snails are found in the class Gastropoda (“Belly foot”) along with slugs, limpets, moon shells, whelks and conchs. Fellow Mollusks include clams, oysters, sea slugs, squid and octopi (OK, some “shelled” critters have no shells, or have internal shells the intricacies of their classification are way beyond the Bug Lady’s pay grade). Pond snails are in the phylum Mollusca, soft-bodied animals that manufacture their own shells. BOTW takes occasional forays out of the world of the six-legged to celebrate non-insect “bugs.” Today’s bugs are of the “one-footed” tribe. We recommend using any combination of the methods above depending on the goals you have for you outdoor pond space to get rid of the unwanted snails.Novice BugFans please note that the BugLady’s definition of “bug” leans more toward that of a first grader than of an entomologist. Snails infesting your pond can be a nuisance. If this is a particular strategy you are implementing, we don’t recommend using chemicals like Dimilin. Buying Japanese Trapdoor Snails is one method of keeping algae from taking over a pond. These types of pond snails are a healthy addition to your outdoor landscapes. Every pond owner knows, algae is a sign of an unhealthy pond environment. The Japanese Trapdoor Snail is a very popular pond snail that some people buy because these snails eat algae. These types of chemicals will kill all types of pond snails. ![]() Getting chemical with your pond snail treatment is a big decision. There are lots of brands selling insecticides for treating anchor worms that will also kill pond snails. Third: Chemical Remedies That Get Rid of Pond Snails In the morning, check the leaves for any snails that have collected on the leaves and get rid of them. Simply lay out some blanched veggies and the pond snails will come to you! Trapping them overnight is easy, just place a couple lettuce leaves on the surface of your pond. Lettuce, carrots, or zucchini are popular choices to entice snails. Collecting pond snails by hand on a regular basis is a good way to significantly reduce their population. ![]() Once the sun goes down, grab a flashlight and head out to your pond to get rid of them. A quick tip: pond snails are a little more active at night time. They could be hiding under leaves or other plants, so they may be hard to find at first. Any time you are out by your pond, pick up five to ten snails and remove them. First: Collect by HandĪ great way to get rid of your pond snail population is to collect them by hand. You’ll find a couple methods that are good to implement below. Because snails have such a quick reproduction rate, it is good to include getting rid of pond snails as a part of your regular pond maintenance routine. Are you dealing with a pond snail infestation? They can multiple overnight! Some pond snails eat away at your beautiful pond plants, and they can even dirty your pond water with their waste. ![]()
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