Common Garden Snail
Cantareus aspersus (syn. Cornu aspersum, Helix aspersa)
Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell. Rasps holes in seedlings and leafy greens, especially on cool wet nights.
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Identify from a photoBackground
Cantareus aspersus is the most common garden snail in Australia. It was introduced from Europe and is now ubiquitous. It feeds at night on a wide range of soft leafy vegetables and seedlings. In large numbers it can defoliate entire seedling beds in a night.
How to identify
- Shell: tan-brown with darker spiral bands, 25-35mm across
- Slime trails visible on soil, paths and plant tissue
- Damage: irregular holes in leaves, seedlings grazed to the ground
- Feeds at night; hides in cool damp places by day
Life cycle
Hermaphroditic; lays 30-100 pearly eggs in moist soil. Eggs hatch in 2-4 weeks. Snails mature in 1-2 years and can live 5+ years.
Weather triggers
- Temperature: 8-25°C
- Humidity: >80%
- Rainfall trigger: >5mm
- Peak activity on damp warm nights. Inactive in dry heat; aestivates sealed to surfaces.
Peak season (southern hemisphere)
Red = active season · Dark red outlined = this month
Affected vegetables & crops
Click any crop to see current prices and growing info.
Climate zones at risk
Organic & low-impact control
- Hand collection at night with a torch, the single most effective method
- Beer traps. Sink a small container flush with soil and half-fill with beer
- Iron-based slug and snail pellets (Multigard, EcoShield). Safer than metaldehyde for pets and wildlife
- Copper tape or mesh around seedling pots
Chemical control
- Metaldehyde pellets are effective but toxic to dogs, birds and frogs. Iron-based baits preferred
Always read product labels. Registrations change.
Prevention
- Clear out daytime hiding places (boards, bricks, dense ground covers at the base of seedlings)
- Water in the morning rather than evening where practical
- Keep mulch pulled back from seedling stems
Companion planting
No companion plant reliably repels snails. Diversionary plantings of softer leafy greens around the perimeter can concentrate snails for night collection.
Biosecurity
Widespread and established, no quarantine concerns.
Know when Common Garden Snail is actually about
The calendar above is the season. It cannot tell you what is happening in your street this week. Get the free weekly email, or see live pressure for your own postcode on Pro.
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Live pest pressure, for your postcode
The season tells you it is possible. This tells you it is happening.
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