Brown Garden Snail
Cornu aspersum
0 host plants
Last updated
Present but secondary to slugs in western Washington. Slug species (particularly Deroceras reticulatum and Arion rufus) cause the majority of mollusk damage in this region. Snails are more significant in drier, warmer climates (California, Mediterranean) where they are the primary mollusk pest. (spring-slug-snail-management guide)
— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist
Quick Reference
Feeding damage similar to slugs: irregular holes with smooth edges produced by the radula. Distinguished from slug damage by the presence of the snail shell and larger, rounder fecal pellets. Damage tends to be concentrated near sheltering structures (walls, fences, dense ground cover) where snails aggregate during the day. (UC Davis IPM Pest Note 7427)
Cultural Controls
- Hand-pick snails from sheltering sites during the day (walls, fences, pot rims, dense ground cover)
- Remove daytime refugia: stacked pots, boards, dense ivy at wall bases
- Copper barriers on raised bed rims (4-6 inch continuous bands)
Sources & References
Primary: UC Davis IPM Pest Note 7427