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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