Latin: Limax flavus and Limax maximus
When you see a snail indoors in Denmark, it is most often one of the air-breathing land slugs. Snails inside houses are typically the cellar slug or yellow slug also known by the Latin name Limax flavus or the great grey slug by the Latin name Limax maximus. So, there are different types of snails to be found inside the danish homes.
Appearance
The common feature for air-breathing land slugs is that they are without a shell. If you look at the individual snail species, however, they are different in both size and appearance.
The cellar slug is 7-10 centimeters long and has drawings as well as dark spots on its light gray skin. The great gray slug is larger with a body length of 15 centimeters. This species is also grayish, but it is often seen with a reddish tone. Here the hind body has dark longitudinal stripes, while the front body is marbled.
Biology and behavior
Both the cellar slug and the great grey slug can be found near or in houses, shacks, basements, and the like. They are primarily nocturnal and will only appear on dark days or during the night. In daylight they hide in humid places.
Both species are omnivorous, and they feed on dead animal material, and plants. When the snails lay eggs, this is done during the summer. The eggs are quite large and are laid in clusters under boards, stones, and similar areas. It is important to place the eggs in moist and protected places.
Damage
The air-breathing land slugs is not harmful. If they are seen in an area, it can be a sign of accumulation of moisture, either under the floors, in the basement or in the rooms.
Furthermore, the snail occurrence can also be a sign of faulty drain or sewers. In such cases the snails choose a place to stay, where they have easy access to the building. Old and unused pipelines are perfect for the slugs if they are not efficiently closed off or removed.
Prevention and control
Although cellar slug and the great grey slug does not pose any real danger, their occurrence should still be taken seriously. Moisture can lead to fungal attack in woodwork, and for this reason it is necessary to see whether improvements can be made. Especially drainage of the ground or improved ventilation is advantageous. In addition, it is recommended to ensure that downspouts, drains, and gutters are in good conditions.
Normally, the above precautions will make the snails disappear. If this is not the case, snail venom is an option. Here it is a matter of laying out the snail venom in the areas where the snails are seen or where their tracks are located. Snail venom can be purchased from garden centers and the like.
When using snail venom, it is essential to follow the instructions carefully. If the poison is not handled correctly, it can have negative consequences for the surroundings or not have the right effect. Therefore, follow the instructions for use carefully. The instructions for use are typically found on the label of the product. In the long run, it is not enough just to lay out poison to be snail-free. It requires that the faults in and around the building are repaired. This does not create viable conditions for the snails, and they will therefore seek elsewhere. It is therefore crucial that moist environments are controlled and prevented if cellar snails and great gray snails are not wanted indoors.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)