Interactions
Interactions with Animals
While there is not much information for
Daedalochila leporina (Polygyra leporina), there is information about the interactions of
snails from the family Polygyridae
in general. One study
conducted by Leroy W. Giles showed that snails from the family
Polygyridae were present in
21.95 percent of the scats of the raccoons he observed
(Giles, 1940). Giles was studying
raccoons in eastern Iowa, which is part of
the area where polygyrids are found (Giles,
1940). The short-tailed shrew also feeds
on
polygyrids, along with
insects and mice
(Hamilton, 1941). Also
based on the analysis of 460 stomachs of the short-tailed shrew
throughout the years, it was found that mollusks, such as
polygyrids, were
present in 5.4 percent of the stomachs
(Hamilton, 1941). Small snails, such as
polygyrids, are also eaten by deer mice (Hamilton, 1941). Another predator of
polygyrids is the red-backed mouse
(Hamilton, 1941).
They eat the snails by gnawing a hole into the shell and
drawing the body out
(Hamilton, 1941).
Interactions with
Humans
Snails, including those found in the family
Polygyridae, have some very
interesting interactions with humans.
Snails tend to feed on the garden vegetation found in the
personal gardens of humans.
Humans have discovered different techniques in order to
prevent snails from eating different plants grown in gardens.
Although some of these methods may kill the snails, the dead
snails will still provide nutrition for predators who feed on
snails.
One of the most common procedures used is
pouring a line of salt around the area of the plants.
Snails will avoid the salt because if the snails like moist
environments and the salt causes the water inside the snail to move
out of the body which in turn dehydrates the snail
(Parry, 2011). This can be compared how humans become dehydrated if they
were to drink salt water if they were on a deserted island.
Another way to prevent snails from snacking on gardens is the
use of beer traps. First
a small hole should be dug near slime trails
(Parry, 2011). Next a tin filled with beer should be inserted into the hole
so that the snails can access the beer, but the tin should be deep enough in the center
so that the snails cannot escape out of the tin
(Parry, 2011).
The snails are attracted to the beer because they enjoy the yeast in
it
(Parry, 2011). One of the last possible ways to prevent snails from
trespassing in your garden is using copper wire.
If the snails come in contact with the copper they will
receive a small shock and this will cause them to turn around and
leave your plants alone
(Parry, 2011).
