Tiger snails not only attract attention with their interesting body drawings, but are also considered beneficial insects against slugs. We present the special garden dwellers here.
If a large, tabby slug appears in the garden, some gardeners first worry about their heads of lettuce. But it is worth taking a second look: the tiger's nose (Limax maximus) is also called the tiger nudibranch. This article explains what a tiger snail is, how it lives and whether it is actually a beneficial insect against slugs in the garden.
contents
- Tiger snails: appearance and way of life
-
Tiger snails as beneficial insects in the garden
- Does the tiger snail eat snails?
- Attract tiger snails and settle in the garden
Tiger snails: appearance and way of life
As the name suggests, the tiger's nose has a striking pattern. On the back half of the body there is a black tiger pattern on a brown-gray background, which merges into a leopard pattern towards the head of the animal. In English, the species is therefore also called "leopard slug". With a body length of up to 20 cm, the tiger snail is next to the black snail (
Limax cinereoniger) one of the largest native species of Schnegel. The sole of the tiger's tail is white and the breathing hole is behind the middle of the mantle shield. Confusing the tiger snail with less useful or even poisonous snail species is unlikely due to its characteristic appearance. As a cultural follower, the tiger's nose can be found in parks, cemeteries, damp cellars - or in the garden.
Snail or snail: Schnegel (Limacidae) belong to the snail family and, strictly speaking, are a family of slugs. They are native to Europe, with some species now occurring worldwide. The position of the breathing hole on the mantle shield is used to distinguish between snails and snails. With snails the breathing hole is always behind the middle of the mantle shield, with snails, on the other hand, to the right in front of the middle of the mantle shield.
The nudibranch family also includes the field slug family with the net field slug (Deroceras reticulatum) as representatives as well as the family of slugs with the Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris).
By the way: In the case of tiger snails, mating is a particularly spectacular event in their two to three years long life. If there are two snails ready to mate, they crawl to an elevated, vertical point in order to crawl one behind the other in a tight circle and secrete mucus. After a while, the snails wrap around each other and abseil down together on a thread of mucus that is up to 40 cm long. At this lofty height fertilization takes place. Then one of the animals drops to the ground while the other crawls up again on the slime thread. The colorless eggs are laid in irregular clutches between June and September.
Tiger snails as beneficial insects in the garden
The tiger snail is often extolled and even sold as a valuable beneficial insect against slugs in the garden. However, some gardeners see it as useless and even report that the tiger snail, like its unwanted relatives, feasts on lettuce and vegetables. What's right now? Does the tiger snail eat other snails or not? This can be remedied by taking a look at the Schnegel's varied menu.
Does the tiger snail eat snails?
Yes, the tiger snail eats snail eggs - but not only. The menu of the tiger snail consists of the predatory food of other nudibranchs from mushrooms, carrion and dead plant residues. Regardless of their size, they eat slugs' eggs and only very rarely are fresh parts of plants eaten. Tiger snails can therefore be classified as beneficial insects in the garden. And if one of the animals does attack the lettuce, you should be lenient - after all, the tiger snail keeps its much more voracious relatives in check.
A snail plague is not mastered by the tiger snail alone. A mitigation and stabilization of the slug populations - especially due to the egg eating - can be expected.
Are tiger snails dangerous? No. The tiger snail is non-toxic for humans and pets and can be touched without hesitation. The tiger snail is at most dangerous to other snails.
Attract tiger snails and settle in the garden
As a rule, the animals appear in the garden all by themselves. Wherever suitable shelter and food are provided, the animals that are loyal to the site can settle in without any complications. Piles of branches or stones, compost or lying roof tiles serve as hiding places. Since dead plant remains are an important source of food for the snails, they can be left here and there, for example as mulch. It is possible to buy tiger snails, but only makes sense if, despite the structures mentioned, no specimens find their way into the garden.
Also one Dry stone wall can provide habitat for the tiger snail. Many other native animals and plants can also settle here, which increases the biodiversity in the garden.
