Homing Snails - Orchid Board

UKCat · #1 08-07-2010, 07:38 AM

For those of you who have a big snail problem, apparently it isn't any good throwing them over into your neighbours garden as they will come back

little devils that they are.

Here is a link on the UK BBC news web site that tells you more on this experiment.
BBC News - Snails 'have a homing instinct'

Maybe we should all collect the dratted things up in a bucket and drop them off in a park about a mile away, at least that way it would take about 1 year for them to get back

RosieC · #2 08-07-2010, 09:29 AM

Really interesting.

I don't throw them into the neighbours, but leave them on the grass verge outside our garden. Really interesting that they probably just come back.

UKCat · #3 08-07-2010, 09:49 AM

Next time you do that Rosie try a dab of the nail varnish and see if they do return.
If they do return take them further away or join in with the experiment that they are setting up as they need more evidence on the homing instinct and that the first experiment isn't just a fluke.

RosieC · #4 08-07-2010, 10:56 AM

My hubby saw that artical on the BBC as well.

I get more slugs than snails but next time I get a snail I'll probably do that.

Call_Me_Bob · #5 08-07-2010, 01:30 PM

SALT!

RosieC · #6 08-07-2010, 02:56 PM

Actually that's what we use arround our Rhubarb. We have a pot of salt water sunk in the ground near the Rhubarb and we find lots of empty snail shells arround the pot and it noticablly reduced the amount the leaves are getting eaten.

I think they get attracted to the water then find it too salty.

Gin · #7 08-07-2010, 05:36 PM

I agree Salt ! or on the black top road when it is 100 outside ..lol

Call_Me_Bob · #8 08-07-2010, 05:39 PM

lol!! fried escargot

thakshila smith · #9 08-16-2010, 06:12 AM

This a very important topic for me. as you know here we get a very hot weather. Therefore we grow rather tall with larger canopy trees to get shade naturally .
These shade is a heaven for slugs and snails.
Several times some of my tiny dens and matured dens and Oncidium flowers were eaten by these intruders.
I applied petrol wastes to outer sides of the pots.
Never worked . This time I applied soap water to the tree trunks.( mounted orchids )
And this time wrap them up with black plastic thin films.
I will add some pics of creatures one day.
Thanks for the news .I will keep some salt water trays in between.
Very easily I can collect about one Kg of snails from my garden. My.... they lay thousand eggs.

Brotherly Monkey · #10 08-16-2010, 06:18 AM

http://www.motifake.com/image/demoti...1235695993.jpg