I have a paper that I keep meaning to dig out that looks at activity
times for certain slugs in Europe. If I remember correctly, the peak
activity period for the species examined was between the hours of 1:00
a.m. and dawn. I'll try to find the paper in the next couple of days.

I certainly agree that terrestrial mollusk species diversity is much
lower on cultivated land and pine woods. Additionally, I know that
Andrew's comments are not meant to discourage searching in these areas.
However, there can still be many exciting finds in these habitats.
Cultivated land will usually hold at least some slugs such as Deroceras
laeve and some of the more cosmopolitan snails (e.g. Ventridens spp. and
Triodopsis hopetonensis in the southeastern US). Pine woods are an
excellent place for micro snails especially in the more lowland areas
where there is a greater abundance of micro fungi.

One paper that discusses pine woods as habitat is:

Archer, A.F. 1942. Pine woods as adequate habitat types for land
mollusca. The Nautilus, 55(3): 94-97.

Additionally, pine woods can be much easier to maneuver through at night
(trying to stay on the subject) than many other forest types.

Jody Thompson


>>> [log in to unmask] 10/17/05 10:35 AM >>>
Alex et al.,

Interesting. Somewhere I read that one can lay out a board in a place
where
landsnails are active, then return the next day to find snails resting
beneath it.

Herbert H. Smith gave several pages of advice in his 1910's pamphlet,
"Directions for collecting land snails" (Museum of the Geological Survey
of
Alabama, p. 1-6, no date), of which this is a sample:

"Most snails are nocturnal, concealing themselves during the day; it is
the
collector's task to find their hiding places. Generally speaking, there
are
few or none on cultivated land or in pine woods or about pine lumber.
The
most productive places are shady, damp woods of hardwood trees,
especially
on steep hillsides, in ravines and along river banks. In such places
turn
over logs and sticks, looking on the lower side and on the ground
beneath.
With a stick rake over damp, decaying leaves, especially about rocks and
logs and at the roots of trees and under bushes; small shells may be
found
among the leaves and larger ones on the ground beneath. It should be
noted,
however, that dry or very wet leaves are unproductive. Piles of half
rotten
brush may shelter large numbers of snails; drag away the brush and rake
the
leaves underneath. An old wood pile may be a treasure house and will
often
repay removal, stick by stick. The cut ends of such wood, as well as of
hardwood logs which are beginning to decay, sometimes attract small
species,
or they may be found in crevices of the bark or under fungi growing on
the
wood. Loose bark should be stripped off to examine its inner surface and
the
rotting wood beneath; in some cases the latter should be broken up to
uncover the species which hide in its crevices. Turn over stones and
look at
the lower surface and the sides; piles of stones and talus under a cliff
are
particularly good, especially if they are damp and moss-covered."

Needless to say, there are other denizens of such cryptic environments
(some
of them dangerous), and logs and leaves should be returned to their
original
positions after inspection.

Cheers,
Andy

Andrew K. Rindsberg
Geological Survey of Alabama

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