Losses to growers are greatest when malting barley is downgraded to feed barley because of snails. Snails also clog up and damage machinery during harvest and cause frustrating delays when farmers have to frequently clean headers to remove the snail pulp. This occurs in barley and some pulse crops. The vineyard snail occasionally feeds on cereal crops in autumn or early winter and can completely bare-out areas of young cereals crops. In contrast the white Italian snail is recognised as an important pest of crops and pastures, especially in the coastal areas of the South-East of the State where snails can eat up to 80 per cent of pasture dry matter in a paddock during winter and spring.
Snails are dormant in summer and their activity is triggered by rain in autumn.
The eggs hatch in about two weeks and the new brood of snails feed and grow through winter and spring. Both species of white snail can have annual or biennial life cycles. Snails only move short distances on their own. They are carried by rail and road on hay, machinery, general merchandise, etc. Snails often reach highest numbers along the fence lines of paddocks that are next to roadside verges where their food and shelter are undisturbed.