Reproduction

Like most other land snails, G. Armifera are functional hermaphrodites, with each individual having two sets of sex organs; tests, sperm, and penis; ovaries eggs, and oviduct and a pouch or receptacle to receive the sperm of another individual. In rare cases, self-fertilization is possible but normally mating is between two individuals of the same species. Egg-laying follows in various locations including under logs and deep moist leaf litter.(Discover, 2011)
 
G. Armifera winters as eggs and quickly develops towards maturity in the spring in the spring (Gugler, 1963). Their relatively large eggs (1.0 to 1.2mm in diameter) are typically deposited at night. A snail that is about to deposit an egg retracts inside its shell as the egg is deposited into the body whorl. The egg is then pushed through the aperture as the snail emerges from its shell. These eggs are typically found covered in fecal material in groups of three to six, lying on the surface on the soil.(Gugler, 1963)                                                            
 
A study done on specimens of G. Armifera collected in Nebraska showed a different reproductive cycle. In hibernating adults collected in winter and early spring, a delicate epiphragm (see Adaptation) covered the aperture. In most specimens, there was a second epiphragm at the level of the teeth, and a hard epiphragm at a point in the body whorl opposite the aperture. When brought into the laboratory such specimens, even those chipped from solidly frozen soil, became active within one to three days. Within eight to 15 days egg deposition began normally (Gugler, 1963).
 
Instead of being covered with a hard outer coating like many other eggs, G. Armifera eggs have a gelatinous covering. When this coating is pierced, the egg immediately shrivels and loses its fluid, but within 24 hours the egg is back to normal. Also, when the egg is placed in an environment lacking water it shrivels and shrinks. However, when placed in water the egg returns to its normal spherical shape. In both of these cases the egg continues to develop normally(Gugler, 1963).