California's Pest Snails and Slugs

Approximately 280 species of snails and slugs are known from throughout California and of these 242 are thought to be native. The vast majority of these native species are not considered to be pests of nurseries or other production systems.

The most damaging snails and slugs are those that have been accidentally or purposely introduced from areas outside of the US. Most of California's pest gastropods are European species. A total of 22 non-native snail and 17 non-native slug species have been recorded in California.

According to our surveys the following are the most abundant snails and slugs in nurseries, garden centers and urban gardens throughout the state:

Snails

Brown garden snail

Cellar glass-snail

Amber snails

Slugs

Three-band garden slug