Helix Aspersa #1
No animals or children were harmed
when making this trail!
This is part of a series of six caches around the village of Timberland and its neighbouring
footpaths. It is a linear walk between Martin and Walcott which can
be started from either Village. Parking waypoints are provided.
Snails have been proved to have a homing
instinct, a perfect trait for every good cacher. This was the
inspiration for a Helix aspera trail.
Known by the common name garden
snail, it is a species of land snail. Although this
species is edible, it is often regarded as a pest in gardens and to
agriculture, especially where it has been accidentally introduced.
It is native to the Mediterranean area but has been spread by
humans, both deliberately and accidentally, to numerous areas all
over the world.
The species is an agricultural and garden pest, and is an herbivore
and has a wide range of host plants (It feeds on plants only).
Lunch includes numerous types of fruit trees, vegetable crops,
garden flowers, and cereals but, it is also a food source for many
animals, including small mammals, many bird species, lizards,
frogs, centipedes, predatory insects, and predatory terrestrial
snails.
The snail is a edible delicacy, and occasionally a household pet.
In French cuisine, it is known as petit gris. The practice
of rearing snails for food is known as heliciculture. For purposes
of cultivation, the snails should be kept in a dark place in a
wired cage with dry straw or dry wood. Helix aspersa is a
hermaphrodite, producing both male and female gametes. Reproduction
is usually sexual, although self-fertilisation can occur. During a
mating session of several hours, two snails exchange sperm. The
garden snail uses love darts during mating. After about two weeks
approximately 80 spherical pearly-white eggs are laid into crevices
in the topsoil. Up to six batches of 80 eggs can be laid in a year.
The size of the egg is 4 mm. The young snails take one to two
years to reach maturity.
- Care should be taken when handling our caches, although
they won’t run away, albeit at a slow pace, shells are
delicate.
- You will need to bring your own pen or pencil.
- A pair of tweezers may be useful.
Congratulations to CheekyBuddha
for FTF!