Tiny Evil Snails

[Beng]

Just got home from work and went out to check on the trees. Noticed a new chojubai I brought home from natures way about a week and a half ago had lost about 10 leaves. It was our first day over about 80 all year so i figured it was from the heat. But, It had been loosing a few leaves every day since I brought it home, they've been turning yellow along the edges and dropping and it's not fungus. So I got in real close and noticed evil tiny snails close in color to the bark on the branches and hiding in the nooks and crevices! Found about 15 on the tree, I crushed them all with the iron grip of my pine tweezers. Strangely they were only on that one new tree. Didn't know miniature snails existed, but I guess they have to start somewhere. Sprinkled Sluggo Plus lightly over all my trees. Snails are annoying little creatures even if they have a benefit in nature. They hide all day and wait till we can't see them at night to come out and eat our plants.

 

[october]

Yup, this is part of the reason I quarantine all new trees. Usually I wait about 2 weeks, sometimes longer, before a new tree is put in with my other trees.

Rob

 

[Beng]

Well I hit everything with sluggo just to be safe. It's good to use this time of year anyway. Fortunately I've been babying this little guy so it spent only daylight hours on my benches which is when snails don't move around. The nights it spent alone in my coldhouse. Maybe it got lonely and attracted the snails.

 

[edprocoat]

I was just wondering how you knew the snails were evil, did the sport a pentagram on their shells?

ed

 

[Beng]

I could sense their blood/plant lust. The air reaked of their evil intent. Hiding in the dark caverns of the bark they were plotting my quinces demise.

 

[Dirty Nails]

"Sitting on the park bench, eyeing little trees with bad intent. Snot running down his nose greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes"

 

[october]

"Sitting on the park bench, eyeing little trees with bad intent. Snot running down his nose greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes"

"Hey aqua snail"

Rob

 

[jk_lewis]

The snails were not the cause of yellow leaves falling from the tree. Snails eat holes in the leaves.

 

[Beng]

Ya I'm not sure whats wrong with it. We'll see how it looks in a few weeks. I think they may have recently repotted it as the pure akadama its potted in looks fresh. Could just be struggling to supply all the leaves after they root pruned. Oddly the edges of the leaves turn yellow uniformly shortly before the leaves fall. Its one leaf here and one leaf there while all the others stay green. i would think the pure akadama was too moist for it but Chojubai apparently like It wet. I'm pretty sure natures way knows there stuff i think it'll turn around. Haven't gotten home yet hoping it had a more pleasant day with the snails not harassing it.

 

[JudyB]

At least it's not the giant house eating snails that they have in FLA these days...

 

[Beng]

What do they look like are they bonsai sized snails? They devour the whole tree in a single night.

 

[JudyB]

What do they look like are they bonsai sized snails? They devour the whole tree in a single night.

Google giant snails in FLA, you'll be shocked. Another import from overseas. They can eat the stucco right off your house to build their shells. They're after the calcium. And I guess they can reproduce after 6 months, and have 10,000 offspring in a year.
YIKES!

 

[Beng]

Wow! Those would keep the squirrels away.

 

[october]

Just googled it... This was the caption under the picture I saw. Pretty scary stuff.

Rob

Giant African land snails can carry a human parasite called rat lungworm, which is a form of meningitis and potentially deadly

 

[Beng]

I wonder if sluggo kills them as well? I would think you'd need a more powerful insecticide like a flame thrower, or a missile launcher.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/05/10/rat-sized-snail-found-in-texas-but-dont-freak-out/

 

[Dav4]

Giant African land snails can carry a human parasite called rat lungworm, which is a form of meningitis and potentially deadly

Ok.....a snail ( ok, a GIANT snail ) carries a rat lungworm which is potentially deadly to humans???? Wow, talk about convoluted....nature in all her glory, I guess.