Garden Snail

Cornu aspersum

The Garden Snail or Common Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum) is only found in mild regions. It does not survive harsh winters with permafrost. It lives in parks and gardens and can also be found outside cities in forests, meadows or dunes.

Like the Burgundy Snail (Helix pomatia), the Garden Snail is cultivated and used as a food snail. So it is quite possible that the snails shown here are wild descendants of farmed specimens. The distribution area of this species is in the Mediterranean region.

Cornu aspersum eats withered plants and occasionally also healthy ones. It is mainly active in the evening and at night, but can also be seen in the early morning or after a warm summer rain.

The (few) Garden Snails in my garden survive the hot and dry summer weeks in a concrete water well. There they can hang on the wall for weeks.

I have not noticed Cornu aspersum causing damage to vegetables or herbs in my garden.