Snail trap designs?

[asabspade]

Hi, I'm an environmental scientist in Northern California. I survey for rare plants and animal habitat. There are a couple rare snails in my area that I survey for. I've found shells of these species but do not know if they are old shells and if there are still live snails in the area.

I'd like to try placing some sort of trap that will attract and retain snails so that I can observe them live, and perhaps select a few for breeding. I have two ideas based on some of the posts made on this forum and some experience trapping other types of wildlife.

First, I'm thinking of doing a transect down a woodland trail. I'm gong to soak some paper plates in beer in a gallon Ziploc bag and then place them at intervals along the trail at dusk on a drizzly day. I'll then get a head lamp and come back to the trail two hours later and see if anything has been attracted to the plates. Depending on results I may pick up the plates on the way back, or leave them out longer in order to check them again.

My second idea is to get a 2 foot length of 3in diameter PVC pipe and a cap for one end. I'll put a beer soaked sponge in the capped end and fit an egg carton with the ends of the lid torn off inside the pipe. I'll soak the egg carton in water so the microclimate inside the pipe is moist. I'm hoping that the egg carton will provide little niches that the snails will choose to curl up in so that they might stay within the pipe longer rather than dine and dash. I plan to bury all but the open end of the pipe in leaf litter so that it is less conspicuous to passers by. I'm hoping that I can leave this trap out for several days at a time at more remote locations that I can't check frequently.

One concern I have is that banana slugs are ubiquitous in my area but at least I'll know if the traps are attractive to land mollusks!

If anyone else has suggestions on how to trap snails, different trap designs, suggestions on how to make my designs better, or other relevant experience I'd appreciate the input. Also, if you think my ideas are good and want to try them out I'd be interested in how they work out for you!

[mangoandlemon]

Im stealing the pipe one! www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=cqs4YHUr7Kg

[mangoandlemon]

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oixnmtH2-w0 For this one you could put a sponge in so they don't drown.

[etana]

Welcome to the forum! I'd love to see updates about your work!

Since we're on the subject of snail traps, the simplest one I know of is just a flat piece of wet, untreated wood placed on grass and left to sit overnight. Snails (and other crawling creatures) gather under it for the shelter and dampness. That's how I used to look for bugs when I was small, simply turning over objects on lawn, heh. I don't know if it's much help for you, Asabspade, but I may be lazy myself and do this at some point.

[Kocel]

Leaving a comment for update

[asabspade]

I shopped for some parts for my pipe trap. Looks like 4in diameter pipe is more appropriate than 3in. A 10ft length of solid leach field line cost me $11. Unfortunately there are not caps for leach field line so I'll have to find something that fits.
We've had dry weather since I made this post so I have no results to post yet.

[mangoandlemon]

I hope it works. It is a excellent idea!

[Jade]

Good luck, I hope you catch some beauties

[Evan]

I will try these out!

[Evan]

I'm trying the beer-plate trap right now. I am going to hose down my yard then place the beer soaked plate upside down along with a flat board. I will check next morning.

[Evan]

So I found a old cardboard box that I forgot to throw out (oops ) and I put it in the hosed down area. I also left the hose dripping nearby. I'm crossing my fingers!

[Evan]

*update* So it's raining tonight, a perfect night for snails! I will put out more beer later, and some fish food. I can hardly wait for morning!

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2015 0:43:36 GMT Evan said:

*update* So it's raining tonight, a perfect night for snails! I will put out more beer later, and some fish food. I can hardly wait for morning!

I really hope you get some!

[Evan]

Jul 16, 2015 0:56:54 GMT @missjuniper said:

Jul 16, 2015 0:43:36 GMT Evan said:

*update* So it's raining tonight, a perfect night for snails! I will put out more beer later, and some fish food. I can hardly wait for morning!

I really hope you get some!

Me too!

[astana]

I'm actually pretty excited to hear the results of your experiment.

[Evan]

So I went out to add more beer, and under the plate was one Zonitoides arboreus (quick gloss), not too interesting, but at least I know it's working. Maybe I'll get some Hawaiia minuscula (Minute Gem), which would be neat. Those are tiny.

(*Update* I think the snail I found may actually be Praticolella Mexicana)

[Evan]

Okay so I went out to check on the trap (7:30 AM my time) and there were NO SNAILS. This goes to show how awful my area is for snails. I know it worked because of the one Praticolella Mexicana, and I'm pretty sure it's snail season here, but there aren't any good snails in my yard. I'm going to try again while it's still morning, and maybe make the tube trap later.

[Evan]

So I went around my yard looking in and under things, and found four snails. I also checked the trap and found a very young, very adventurous Praticolella Mexicana. I am also going to start a thread about my workings with snails.

[Evan]

Apr 24, 2015 0:50:47 GMT asabspade said:

I shopped for some parts for my pipe trap. Looks like 4in diameter pipe is more appropriate than 3in. A 10ft length of solid leach field line cost me $11. Unfortunately there are not caps for leach field line so I'll have to find something that fits.
We've had dry weather since I made this post so I have no results to post yet.

Hello I just wanted to let you know that fish flakes seem to have a better result than beer. I just mashed them up with water and made a paste. I smeared that on a plate and turned that upside down. That seemed to work well.