Draparnaud's glass snail

Draparnaud's glass snail (Oxychilus draparnaudi) is a species of land snail within the family Oxychilidae, order Stylommatophora. While primarily known for its carnivorous tendencies, feeding on other molluscs and small invertebrates, this species is increasingly recognized as a pest in greenhouses and moist ornamental gardens, where it readily consumes young plant tissues.

The biology of Oxychilus draparnaudi is characterized by a preference for cool, damp environments. They are typically found under logs, stones, or thick mulch. The snail possesses a characteristic glassy, translucent shell. Reproduction is continuous in suitable greenhouse conditions, allowing populations to grow rapidly if sanitation practices are neglected and moisture levels remain consistently high.

This pest inflicts damage by rasping away at the leaves, stems, and flower petals of various plants. While they are often associated with garden sanitation, in the absence of prey, they switch to fresh vegetation. This can lead to significant economic losses in seedling production, as the snails can devour entire batches of young plants in a single night.

The symptoms of damage include irregular, ragged holes in the leaves, often accompanied by thin, glistening mucus trails left on the leaf surface or soil. Their activity is almost exclusively nocturnal, making them difficult to spot during the day. High-density populations are capable of devastating decorative gardens and vegetable plots during periods of prolonged rainfall.

• Elimination of hiding places like debris, wood piles, and weeds.
• Installation of physical barriers such as copper tape or crushed eggshells.
• Application of iron phosphate baits, which are safer for non-target species.
• Encouraging natural predators such as hedgehogs, frogs, and ground beetles.
• Manual removal during night-time inspections using a flashlight.