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Snail harvesting is still incredibly popular in modern times, as snails are viewed as a delicacy and are served in many restaurants. Although the idea of consuming icky snails may seem unappealing, thousands of people who have tasted them are especially impressed by their delicious taste.
Many countries throughout Europe include snail dishes in their traditional cuisine. Most snail dishes are either served as main courses or appetizers. A variety of snail recipes exist. Those travelling to France will try a snail dish that is different to a snail dish found in other parts of the world like Belgium, Greece and Cyprus. Typically, snail dishes are found in expensive and fine restaurants as they are considered a delicacy.
The French call snails Escargot. The Escargots are cooked with garlic and butter and are served whole, meaning with their shell. French consider their dish a delicacy and as such the cost of Escargot is expensive but the taste is totally worth it!
Snail dishes in Italy and Greece are quite different from the French Escargot dish. Italians and Greeks tend to cook snails in a variety of dishes and add other ingredients such as pasta or rice. Other countries like Portugal, Spain as well as Germany also love eating snails and have distinct recipes. Additionally there is an extremely high demand for snails in many countries such as the USA, which is one of the biggest snail importers in the world. The majority of snail dishes found in USA restaurants originate from European cuisine.
Did you know that snails are so popular that they are celebrated on the 24th of May? It’s true! National Snail Day is celebrated on the 24th of May whereby many celebrative dishes are prepared like Snails with Cream and Herbs, Gratin Snails, Snail and Mushroom Soup, Snails and Pasta and many more.
According to research, snails became a popular food source in the USA as far back as the 1850s. in those days, immigrants and travellers introduced snails to the USA, whereby they gained popularity immediately and a new trend started.
As mentioned above, snails were introduced to the USA by immigrants and travellers. In the beginning they were scarce but soon snails began to grow in population and spread through the land. At first, they were considered as pests and a menace. Soon they became a delicacy and people throughout the country began harvesting snails in their farms and gardens. In fact, snails became so popular in those days that farmers who collected them gained great sums of profits.
Before consumption, snails need to be cleansed following a fixed procedure. The procedure is needed so as to ensure the snails are free of any parasites or other bacteria that may cause unwanted diseases. Although some view the procedure time-consuming, the end result is totally worth the effort! Top-rated chefs explain that snails should undergo a strict diet before they are cooked. During the first three days snails are given water only. After the three days, they are given flour and water in order to purify their bodies for a week. When the purification is over, the snails are ready to be cooked using any recipe you wish to follow! Whatever you choose, the end result will be delicious.
Selecting the ideal plot of land for a snail farm is the most crucial and significant decision a snail farming business needs to take. Snail farmers need to take in to account the adequacy of the land they set up their farm for many reasons, like whether the soil is adequate for plants to grow and feed the snails. Another factor farmers should consider is whether the wind and to what extent it will affect the dryness of the soil. Additionally, a farmer is required to eliminate pests and others predatory insects which may prey on snails. For this reason, the plot should not be covered with big trees so as to avoid unwanted pests and insects that are attracted to such environments. Due to all the above reasons, farmers are required to examine the soil in order to ensure plants and crops will grow. The ideal settings are plots of land whereby the soil analyses should be between PH 5.8 to 7.5 as well as having high calcium levels.
Furthermore, the texture of the soil should be light enabling snails to move freely and lay eggs. For instance, clay soil is viewed as heavy, whereby snails have difficulty moving and laying their eggs. Another factor to take into consideration is the moisture of the soil. Snails are able to move with ease when the soil, leaves and ground are moist. Moist soil also means that plants and crops grow more rapidly.
Snail farmers should also make certain they install an appropriate and effective drainage system so as to ensure water is not collected in puddles. Rainfall and irrigation are additional factors potential snail farmers need to consider.
Suitable Size of Snail Farms
The size of the farm depends on the farmer and his requirements. For instance, those engaged in snail farming as a hobby may use a plot that is approximately 1000 to 2000 square metres. Cottage farms are also required to use a plot of land anywhere between 1000 to 2000 square metres. However, those setting up a small Snail Farm are required to use anywhere between 3000-10000 square metres. Those starting up a large-scale need at least two hectors of land. As time passes and the snail farm’s business increases, the plot should also increase respectively. Several large-scale snail farms can cover a land of 30 hectors.
Setting up a Snailery
There are various types of snaileries that can be constructed. Before constructing a snailery, specific factors should be considered. For instance, farmers should take into account the snails’ habit and development stage. The most important factor to consider when constructing a snailery is safety. That is, snail farmers must make certain the snails will not be able to escape and they must make certain the snails are protected from predators. The material used for the construction of the snailery is another important factor. Snail farmers need to make sure the timber they use will not be affected by termites and will not decay. The timber most commonly used are, Milicia Excelsa, Lophira Alata and Nauclea Diderrichii. Other materials that are needed include mosquito nets, polythene sheets as well as sancrete blocks. The above materials are required to construct any of the types of snaileries outlined below:
· Trench Pens
· Hutch Boxes
· Mini-Paddock Pens
· Free Range Pens
· Moveable Pens
· Feed
The majority of snail species is vegetarians and feed on a diverse variety of greeneries. It has been noted that the snail breed that feeds on a variety of greeneries is the Achatina Achatina.
Variety of Food Sources
Studies have revealed that Achatina Achatina feed on a diverse variety of food. Generally, this species favours green leaves, flowers, tubers as well as fruit. In comparison to other snail species, the Achatina Achatina prefers to feed on fruit and leaves that are not on the main plant. In general, snails tend to prefer feeding on wet leaves as opposed to dry ones. Snails prefer to feed on the food sources outlined below.
In addition to the above food sources, snail farmers should offer snails a mixture of food in order to enhance their growth.
Reproduction
Snails are hermaphrodites, meaning each snail has both the male and female organs. The reproduction process entails two snails of the same breed. In some occasions, even snails of the same species, which originate from different countries, reject one another. During intercourse, snails act as either males or females, but both snail partners are fertilized. In general, the mating procedure occurs during the end of spring or the beginning of summer. After the mating process, snails have the ability to store semen for up to one year, even though the majority lay eggs within a few weeks.
The soil needs to be at least to inches deep for snails to lay their eggs. Additionally, snail farmers need to make sure the area is free of pesticides such as millipedes, earwigs and ants, which feed on the snail’s eggs. The suitability of th soil should also be taken into consideration. For instance, clay, dry and heavy soil is not suitable because such types of soil reduce the ability to reproduce as well as decreasing the ability for the eggs to hatch. The eggs hatchability depends on a variety of factors including the soil’s composition, temperature and humidity levels. The soil needs to be moist. Furthermore, studies have shown that approximately one-third of snails die after giving birth to eggs because they lose a large amount of weight.
Snail Diseases
Clean and hygienic environments prevents the spread of disease whereas increases the growth and health rates of snails. Thereby, snail farmers should take precautions as to avoid the spreading of disease. For instance, snail farmers are required to replace snail’s food on a daily basis as well as add earthworms in the snail pen, which help keep the snail’s environment clean. Snail farmers should also protect the snails from intestinal infections due to the reception of bacteria like Pseudomonas. Snails need to be protected from fungi, arthpods, parasites as well as nematodes, especially when a dense number of snails are gathered together in one place. Snails also need to be sheltered away from predators such as birds, weasels, moles, mice and rats.
Marketing of Snails
Snail demand is especially high in western France and western Africa. The most thriving snail markets are located in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana as well as Nigeria. France is the biggest snail importer in the world. Besides consuming snails, France also imports snails in order to export them to other countries in Europe and North America. The USA alone imports approximately $200 million worth of snails every year. Other snail booming markets include Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Canada as well as the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. The main snail supplying countries include Cyprus, Greece, Algeria as well as Tunisia and Rumania.
A miracle beauty product was launched into the market a few years ago. The beauty product’s undeniable success is attributed to the mucus of snails, which is the main ingredient contained in the product. The beauty product was promoted as the ideal solution to combat wrinkles, heal scars, wounds and burns as well as stretch marks and acne.
Snail-based products have rejuvenating attributes. Snail’s mucus has been used in folk medicine for many decades. Nonetheless, some skeptics claim that beauty products made from snail’s mucus are a sham whereas fans insist the mucus carries anti-ageing properties. Cryptomphalus Aspersa, which is one of the commonest kinds of snails, exudes a substance, which regenerates skin and carries anti-ageing properties.
Over the last ten years, cosmetic products made up of snail slime have spread throughout the world. The actual substance snails secrete has been registered and given an INCI code on the global list of cosmetic ingredients, which is Snail Secretion Filtrate (SSF).
The Discovery of Snail Slime’s Miraculous Properties
Rafael Abad, an oncologist, accidently stumbled upon the beneficial properties of snail mucus accidently during the 1960s. At the time, the oncologist was carrying out research involving snails whereby he subjected the creatures to radiation in an attempt to treat cancer. During the experiments, he noticed that the snails secreted a substance that was dissimilar to the mucus they usually released when moving. The oncologist also observed that the snails recovered rapidly from little skin wounds caused by the radiation treatment they were subjected to. Intrigued by the snails’ ability to recover and repair their wounds, Rafael Abad began conducting tests in order to determine the effects of the snail slime on humans.
Snail Slime Cosmetic Products
The slime of snail is collected by hand in expert farms, as in snail farms found in Chile. Snails are put under pressure and stress by using a wooden stick. Obviously, snails feel as if they are being attacked and release this unique mucus as a defense. The mucus is then dispatched to various European laboratories whereby scientists analyze, filter and purify the substance in order to be registered as a SSF cosmetic ingredient. One liter of snail slime is sold for 1000 Euros. The beauty products brought out in the market usually include between 10%-15% SSF. Even though individual laboratories use their own formulas to create their snail slime-based product, the final product generally includes the following substances and ingredients:
Elastin and Collagen-which are proteins needed to recreate and reshape skin.
Allantoin-a substance that helps restore skin tissue as well as heal inflamed and swollen skin.
Hyaluronic acid-which is a substance that holds moisturizing and regenerating properties that helps soften and lubricate the skin.
Glycolic acid-which is a substance that helps get rid of dead cells as well as allowing other ingredients infiltrate hair follicles to renovate damaged tissues.
Science and Research
A research conducted a decade ago revealed that a SFF 90-day therapy treatment decreased the amount of wrinkles. More precisely the results of the study showed that fine line wrinkled reduced by 26.7% whereas coarse wrinkles reduced by 45.5% at the end of the 90-day period.
In December 2012, another study was undertaken on skin samples, which were kept alive using artificial means. The results of the survey showed that SSF helped skin cells to multiply more quickly and easily. Finally, the results also showed that the use of SFF helped collagen levels increase.
Upon purchasing a cosmetic product that is made up with snail slime, make certain the snail mucus included in the product was collected through stimulation means. There are many snail slime-based products on the market, which are not high quality products, because the snail slime was not extracted using stimulation.
However, the results snail slime has on the skin are effective, immediate and plain spectacular. Even snail slime based products, which are not considered high quality, are miracle workers. The snail slime hydrates and moisturizes the skin; therefore, wrinkles are soften and smoothened. In addition, snail slime helps heal wounds and burns without leaving scars. Dermatologists all over the world recommend the use of snail slime-based products to patients who go through radiotherapy treatment as it helps treat and cure their wounds and burns more quickly and effectively.
Snail Gel - The Most Popular Anti-Wrinkles Product
Snail Gel is the most popular cosmetic product on the market at the moment, as consumers have become aware of its anti-wrinkles and anti-ageing properties. The products success lies in the use of snail’s slime, an ingredient that rejuvenates skin.
According to recent statistics, the sales of the product have soared during the past few months. The beneficial properties of snail’s slime were discovered by accident when snail farmers in Chile observed their skin inflammations were cured without leaving any scars while they were preparing to export snails to France.
Ever since the Chilean snail farmers’ discovery, the slime of snails has been widely used in cosmetic products. Snails are even used in luxury spa treatments in Japan where a live-snail facial treatment costs EUR 180.
Consumers benefit from the properties of snail’s slime by purchasing Snail Gel. Snails’ mucus is collected without hurting or putting the snails in danger. Snails crawl over special surfaces made of either glass or plastic, whereby they leave a trail of smile, which is then collected.
The special substance contained in the snails’ mucus is Helix Aspersa Muller. Helix Aspersa Muller is made up of a variety of proteins and glycolic acids as well as hyaluronic acid, allantoin and elastin. All these together restore and repair the creature’s shells as well as membranes.
Researchers have been conducted in order to examine and investigate the mucus of snails. One of these surveys was applied on patients that had suffered from burns. The treatment proved that snail’s mucus is indeed an efficient, natural as well as safe manner to treat open wounds.
Many celebrities, including Ashley Roberts and Katie Holmes, are enthusiasts of Snail Gel and use the product due to its effective regenerative features. Due to celebrities’ interest in more naturally derived beauty products, the youth have been influenced also seeking healthy and naturally made products.
Although applying an icky substance on your skin may seem quite strange, the fact remains that people are seeking out natural ways to take care of themselves and bodies. Going back to nature and natural sources has proven to be efficient and effective. This trend has been especially evident regarding beauty cosmetic products, as in general people have become aware that the products they apply on their skin and bodies are equally important as the food they feed their bodies.
Snail Gel has become a must-product, gaining more and more popularity each day as people discover the cream’s beneficial anti-ageing and moisturizing features. According to testimonials, the Snail Gel’s benefits are instantly visible. After applying the cream, the skin is immediately rejuvenated, leaving it soft and fresh looking.
The majority of people, including both men and women, would go to extreme lengths to look good and improve their appearance. Therefore,those seeking to look good and make their wrinkles disappear should look no further as the slime of snails does miracles.
The latest beauty craze entails that snails are the number one hit concerning beauty makeovers!
Snail’s slime is primarily promoted as the ideal solution for those suffering from acne as well as doing wonders for burns and scars.
Apparently, snail’s slime has been used as a cosmetic product since antiquity. The ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, treated inflammation by applying crushed snails on bare skin. Additionally, many beauty creams throughout Europe include snail’s slime.
Approximately 15 years ago several snail farmers in Chile accidently discovered the therapeutic qualities and potential of snail’s slime after noticing their scars and skin inflammation healed while harvesting and preparing snails to be exported to France. After their accidental discovery the snail farmers brought in to the market Elicina, a product made of the slime of snails.
Snail-based products have been thriving all over the world during the past years. A company named Missha in 2010 launched super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream in Korea. The cosmetic product has taken over the beauty world due to its rejuvenating properties. Apparently, the cream works wonders as it treats, soothes and regenerates skin. Seventy per cent of the miracle-product is made up of snail extract. To make sure the quality of the cream is top-notch, the snails used to make the cream feed on red ginseng. Furthermore, the popular Korean It’s Skin company has also launched another snail-based product named Prestige Cream D’Escargot, which 21% of the cream is made up of snail’s slime.
Other snail-based beauty creams are Capibell, Andes Nature, De Tuinen, Alfa as well as Labcconte USA. All these beauty products are available for sale on-line as well as found in shops.
So what qualities does the slime of snails contain that have led snail-based products to thrive? Helix Aspersa Müller Glycoconjugates, which is the literal name for the slime of snails, contains various ingredients such as glycolic acids, elastin as well as proteins, which protects snail’s skin from infections, damage and UV rays. Although, the properties of snail’s slime are presently famous, some still have not warmed up to the idea of applying the slime on their faces!
A well-known blog, Beauty Brains, reports on researches and studies that have been conducted proving that the slime of snails credibility concerning its bioactive properties and qualities. For one, surveys have proven that the slime helps stimulate collagen, thus when applied on skin, the collagen helps the skin to maintain water and also treats and heals wounds. The latter results however do not prove that that cosmetic products which include snail’s slime leads to skin rejuvenation. Regardless of this fact, cosmetic products that consist of snail’s slime are extremely popular, as on-line reviews have shown. On-line consumers talk enthusiastically about their less blemished, rejuvenating and softer skin, which is the result of applying a cosmetic product that contains the slime of snails.
In order to collect the slime of snails, experts use technical and mechanical means to induce the snails’ stress levels, which leads to the secretion of slime. The slime collected is then purified by filtering the mixture before it is packaged and dispatched.
The most beneficial attribute of snail’s slime is the fact it does not contain any chemical. The slime of snails is yet another ingredient humans have used in order to remain young and beautiful. Many other animals have also been used during the passage of time for the same reason. For instance the marrow of chickens, the feces of birds , the venom of snakes as well as oil extracted from sharks and semen of bulls have all been used in cosmetic products.
Even though to some the idea of applying gooey slime on their skin may seem disgusting, the fact that this slimy mixture helps reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin outweighs its icky feature.
The majority of snails are herbivores consuming any kind of vegetation. Nonetheless, some species of snails are omnivores whereas others are carnivores. Snails are commonly found in gardens where they find plentiful of plants and leaves to eat. Those who tend to use pesticide and herbicide substances to protect their plants cause snails to die without realizing it.
Snails are Pests
Serious problems and issues arise when large amounts of snails live in a garden or on fields with cops. Snails tend to eat most of what has grown, thus ruining farmers’ crops and people’s gardens. Regions where crops and vegetables are cultivated either for personal or commercial use may be seriously compromised. This is the main reason people go to great means to get rid of snails.
Those more compassionate and humane, attempt to trap snails rather than poisoning and killing them. The trapped snails are then released into another region or sold to be eaten. The easiest manner to trap snails is to place jar lids with beer in a garden or field.
Farmers who have acres of land undertake other ways in order to prevent snails from damaging their crops. A successful method farmers use is placing six-inch layers of copper in the ground. Snails’ slime does not mix well with the copper causing snails to remain away from the crops.
Snails need to consume food rich in calcium in order for their shell to remain hard. Snails use their sense of smell when looking for food. Snails have the ability to breathe through their skin as well as their pneumostome, an opening located on the right part of their small bodies. In contrast to their powerful sense of smell, snails have poor vision and are incapable of using their eyesight to find food.
Snails are known to be nocturnal, meaning they seek food at night or very early in the morning. When winter is ahead, they tend to consume more food, storing fat to prepare them for the winter season when they hibernate.
Snails voluntarily hibernate during times they cannot find food. Hibernation allows the snails to maintain their energy and not seek additional food sources. This ability enables them to survive during droughts.
Snails tongue, known as radula, is incredibly rough. Snails also have tiny rows of teeth used to bite food they eat. Those who have snails as pets need to feed them food that lack salt and sugar. Consuming salty and sugary food will kill them.
Snails are known to make noise while feeding. Most misunderstand and tend to believe the noise they make derives from actually eating the food. The truth is their rough radula scratches and tears what they have already swallowed in order to be digested.
Beetles, flies, mites and other species of snails are land snails invertebrate predators while birds; reptiles, mice, shrews and amphibians are their vertebrate predators.
Land snails are also prey for other larger-sized animals like birds, snakes, toads and frogs. The majority of larger-sized animals capture land snails easily, eating large numbers of them, because of their small size and slow pace.
Depending on the area, the land snails have settled their predators differ. For instance, in occasions where land snails are located near ponds, where ducks and geese usually settle, it is quite common for the birds to eat them. Although passerby and visitors usually feed ducks and geese, they still possess an innate instinct to seek and hunt different kinds of prey like land snails.
Domestic pets like cats and dogs also eat land snails, not because they are hungry but mainly due to the fact, they are curious or territorial. Some domestic pets may eat land snails while others simply kill or play with them. Land snails are also victims of field mice.
Protection from Predators
Snails cannot protect themselves from their predators. The natural colour of their bodies camouflages them. In actuality, your garden may be packed with snails but you are unable to detect them unless you are intentionally looking for them. The only real means of protection snails have is their shell. They place their entire body inside their shell, even though most predators can break their shell easily.
Shells that are thick and hard, better defend snails from their predators. Another means snails protect themselves is by exuding increased amounts of mucus.
Human Danger
Humans are a great threat to snails because some species are consumed as a delicacy, especially by the upper social classes. Thousands of tonnes of snails are consumed by humans every year. The majority of snails consumed are taken from snail farms.
The fact they are taken from snail farms ensures that the ones humans consume are healthy. When harvested they follow a special diet in order to make sure they taste better than those found in the wild. Naturally, the snails harvested from snail farms are more expensive, but most people find their taste is worth the extra money.
Although snails are preyed by so many predators they still succeed in surviving. The fact they mate up to six times a year and deliver approximately one hundred eggs each time is the key feature attributed to their survival. Although snails have a very high mortality rate, their numbers are kept high because of their constant breeding.
Experts explain that the large number of snails in the wild contribute to other animals existence. As mentioned above there exists an abundance of snail predators who feed on snails to live and survive.
Snail Production at Present - Future Prospects of the Industry
Snail Farming and the Snail Market
At present, snail farms do not produce enough snails to meet the demand of the market needed for human consumption. Snail farms which are already established in the market are not concerned with the increasing numbers of snail farming emerging in developing markets.
It is commonly believed that closed-system snail farming is better controlled and effective. Before deciding on which type of snail farming you will follow you need to consider how efficient and the profit each type entails. Closed-system snail farming covers all the regulations and standards set by Touchstone Snails in terms of breeding and fattening of the snails.
The species of snail chosen to be produced in a snail farm should already be in demand. The Helix Aspersa Muller snail currently holds the highest demand throughout Europe’s snail markets.
Food for Snails
One of the most important factors linked to snail farming is what snails are fed since the snails will eventually be consumed by humans. Snails should be fed vegetables and other harmless food in order to ensure the snails remain healthy and their meat remains white.
Snail Production
The constant increase in snail demand throughout European countries show the snail farming industry will thrive in the following years. Many decades will pass until the snail farming industry meets the demand.
It is a fact the snail industry is a profitable sector, where the demand of snails is constantly increasing and the supply is limited. This simply proves that more snail farms need to be established in the market so as to meet the over-growing demand.
The reproduction process of snails is quite diverse than any other animal. One of the main differences lies in the manner in which snails bodies are built. Snails are hermaphrodites, meaning their body consists of both female and male reproductive organs. With the exception of several freshwater and marine snail species, like Apple Snails, the remainder of land snails are hermaphrodites. The rare exceptions, such as the Apple Snails have separate male and female reproduction organs.
Generally, land snails are ready to reproduce from eighteen months after their birth to five years, all depending on the kind of snail species they are. Land snails sexually mature so rapidly due to the fact their life cycle ranges between five to seven years. The reproductive organs of snails are located on the front-bottom part of their small bodies allowing their mate to access them easily.
Snails mating procedure gives them the advantage of carrying multiple eggs at a time. Their mating ritual ranges from two hours until twelve hours. At the end each snail fertilises eggs in to each other, since both have the capacity of carrying them. On average, each snail has the ability to carry up to one hundred eggs each time they are fertilised.
Once the eggs are fertilised they grow inside the snail’s body until they are delivered. Upon delivery, both mates place their eggs into the top layers of damp and moist soil where they are covered for protection. The location they are placed is vital to the eggs survival.
Commonly, snail eggs are ready to hatch within two to four weeks from the time they were delivered. Immediately after they hatch, the baby snails instinctively seek to consume calcium in order to strengthen and harden their fragile and soft shells. The first thing they eat is the egg that carried them which is rich in calcium. It takes approximately three months for a baby snail to resemble a miniature version of an adult snail. While they grow within the three months, the baby snails remain in the nest their parent snails provided. While they mature they change colour from clear to blue while finally they adopt the colour of their specific species. Once the baby snail has completely matured it detaches itself from its parent.
Snails’ reproduction process consists of a series of steps that aids in the growth and survival of snails. The reproduction process begins once a snail is sexually mature. In the next stage the snail needs to find a suitable mate. Once they have mated and fertilised the eggs, they then deliver find an adequate place to deliver and create a nest in the soil. The eggs are then hatched and develop into mature snails, which in turn will follow the same reproduction cycle.
The Helix Aspersa Muller is imported my most continents. The counties that import snails are the following: Turkey, Algeria and other South African countries, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Canary Islands, Haiti, Mexico, the USA, Argentina and Chile.
Cycle of Life, Biology and Anatomy
The Helix Aspersa Muller, similarly to the majority of snail species, comes under the hermaphroditic category where the snail’s body consists of both the male and female reproductive organs and systems. Mating between snails occurs during the night and can take four to twelve hours, where both of the snails are fertilised by the insertion of sperm. Both snails deliver their eggs three to six days after the mating procedure. The parent snail digs a nest in the soil ranging from 2.5-5 inches in depth to deposit its eggs. Each snail delivers on average 80-100 eggs. Once the eggs have been delivered and placed in the nest, they are covered with moist soil and snail mucus. Warm and damp environments increase the frequency of oviposition. In such ideal environments, eggs are delivered as frequently as once a month. In contrast, cold temperatures and low levels of humidity reduce the process of laying eggs. Baby snails hatch around two to four weeks after they are delivered. Once they have hatched they remain in their nest for the following two to four days. Then they surface from the soil and seek to feed themselves. They prefer eating any kind of vegetation. Snails reach maturity approximately two years after they are born, depending on the calcium they consume in the meantime. Rich in calcium food aids snails to mature more quickly. During cold weather, the majority of snails hibernate. Basically they bury themselves in soil and cover their shells with a thick layer of mucus. When the climate is dry, snails tend to stick on to the rough and hard surface and again seal their shells to avoid aridness. Snails are mainly active when temperatures range from 4.5°C and 21.5°C; nonetheless they can survive extremely cold temperatures as low as -10°C.
Detection of Snail
Snails are easily detected because when feeding, they leave chewed holes on leaves and fruit. Also, due to their slimy mucus, snails leave a trail of slime behind them on plants and fruit they have walked on. Finally their waste is visible on plants.
Identification of Snail
Snail eggs are easily identified because of their circular white shape. Typically eggs measure 3mm in diameter. Before reaching maturity, their shells are made up of one spiral. Until they mature, their light brown shell is soft and smooth lacking any kind of patterns of speckles. Adult snails are more distinctive because their shell enlarges. The adult shell contains four to five spirals decorated with diverse patterns. The actual texture is shiny, glossy and thin. The last whirl of a fully developed shell moves down towards the front and the lip moves towards the back. The adult shell usually measures from 29-33 mm in height and 32-38 mm in diameter. Their colour diversifies between shades of yellow, brown and grey. Most matured shells consist of five brownish bands with yellowy flecks.
Body
A snail’s body is commonly 5-6 cm long. They tend to have a yellowy-greyish colour or a greenish-black colour. Along the back of their body there is a pale line which runs from the base of their tentacles till the shell.
How to find the snails
Adult snails or large-sized snails are detected more easily amongst host material or when attached to containers. Snails also hide in their shells to avoid extreme weather and climate conditions like droughts. To easily detect them, you should examine the edges of containers or their undersides. Smaller eggs or snail eggs are more difficult to detect because of their size. Generally, the Helix Aspersa Muller prefers hiding in cracks and gaps. During the winter months they are mainly found in stony and pebbled grounds.
Snail Surveys
Surveys on snails are preferably carried out during damp and warm weather conditions during the night. In order to observe snails while the weather is dry and the sun is shining, you need to look for them in areas where there is humidity like under low plants or debris. Take into consideration that snails also hide in soil or other humid and damp matter, so you need to thoroughly inspect an area in order to be sure it has or has not been infested by snails.
The Helix Aspera Muller Garden Snail’s Nutritional Value
Low in Fat and High in Protein
The meat of the Helix Aspera Muller Snail is rich in protein, full of minerals, low in calories and fat. Snail meat contains four times less fat than beef and six times less fat than cheese.
The Helix Aspersa Muller Snail nutritional value is considerably high. This is because the snail’s protein is made up of amino acids, which the human body is required to consume to keep healthy. Astonishingly, when compared to other types of meat like beef or pork, snails consist of significantly less amounts of bacteria.
Beneficial Fatty Acids
Snail meat consists of large amounts of beneficial fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6. The amount of omega-3 and omega-6 found in snail meat is almost equal to that found in fish.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Snail meat is rich in calcium and phosphorous, which are both equally needed for bones to develop and grow properly. Snail meat also consists of various other compounds like sodium, potassium and magnesium. Furthermore, the meat of snails is a great source of amino acids. This means vegetarians, those fasting or those that cannot consume dairy products can easily receive the amino acids they need by consuming snail meat.
Minerals
Snail meat is a great source of selenium, a mineral that acts as an antioxidant. The antioxidant found in snail meat protects against various diseases like cancer and cardiovascular syndromes as well as aiding the immune system and thyroid gland to work more efficiently.
Low in Calories
Regarding calories and fat, snail meat contains the least amount in contrast to other meat. It is also rich in minerals and amino acids, both required and beneficial to the human body.
Were you aware of the fact that:
Cretans live longer lives and have very low cancer rates because they consume large amounts of snails.
The meat of snails is viewed as a fasting protein that accompanies other food perfectly like potatoes, zucchini and rice.
Till today, a variety of Greek villages carry out snail treatments.
To prevent ulcers people swallow a living snail for a week every year.
Hippocrates, enthralled by the powerful foamy mucus snails exude to protect themselves, said, that a great way to relieve the human body from irritations and skin dryness is by applying the mucus snails produce. He added that regular application keeps the human skin clean and radiant.
