– I have received feedback that there are many more than usual, says Bjørn Arild Hatteland. He is a researcher at Nibio and an associate professor at the University of Bergen. He has spent the last 17 years researching the brown bandits. According to him, the brown snails are doing well in the wet summer weather. – The wet weather facilitates that they are more active and do more damage. Now they can eat around the clock, and then you pay better attention to them, says Hatteland. The thick snails that are preying on your beds now are dying by themselves towards the end of the summer. But not until they have time to lay eggs in August and early September. – Taking them before they lay eggs can limit the problem. But then it is urgent for those who have not done anything yet, he says. International aggravation The brown snail probably comes from the south of France, and has spread around Europe since the 1960s. Troms in Norway is probably the longest north the snails have slipped. Bjørn Arild Hatteland is an expert on snails. Photo: University of Bergen Like other snails on land, brown snails eat both dead animals and plants, and have a degrading function in the ecosystem. But some are more fond of fresh plants and shoots than others. – The brown snail is actually listed as one of the 100 worst alien species in the world, says Hatteland. The researcher says that they can see from the genetic compositions of different snails that the unwanted brown snail in several places outperforms the Norwegian, native black forest snail. The brown snail rejoices over the humid summer. Photo: Maria Gunnarsdotter Svedal / news Should receive a humane dismissal He still believes they deserve a humane dismissal. The researcher therefore advises against using salt on the snails, but rather recommends cutting them, or using the funds you can buy in garden stores. Also, one can plant species the snail does not like as well, such as rose bushes and lavender, and make sure to take good care of the garden. – If it is cut short and well maintained in the beds and in the garden, they will die in hot periods. Then they will not find places where they do not have to dry out, he says. The brown snails, like other snails, are responsible for breaking down waste products in nature. Photo: Private Applies to make an effort The brown snails have few natural enemies in nature. Most enemies have it in the spring, when hedgehogs, beetles, birds and roundworms take the small snails. Once they grow big, they become so slimy that no one in nature will eat them. If you want to get rid of a brown snail problem, it’s as much about timing as the method, says Hatteland. – No matter what means you use, or if you cut them, it is important to make an effort in the spring and early summer, he says. How to fight the brown snails Bjørn Arild Hatteland has several tips for those who want to get rid of brown snails. He recommends using several different methods, but also says that it depends on how much time and resources you want to spend. Keep the garden clean and tidy. According to the researcher, snails thrive in shrubs and bushes, and one can go a long way in clearing away dead leaves and weeds. Stay tuned early in the morning and late in the evening. Then you can find out where the snails are, and take more targeted measures. Pick the snails and cut them in half. Snails are cannibals with a good sense of smell. If you kill a brown snail and leave it lying around, other brown snails will flock to eat it. This is how you can take several at a time. There are several remedies that can be used to reduce the brown snail population. These come, for example, in pellet form which the snail eats and dies from. Now there is also Nemaslug, which mimics the brown snail’s natural enemy, the roundworm.
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