A snail is a mollusk that is very sensitive to certain external factors and substances. They have some special characteristics in surviving and protecting themselves, here are three things that snails fear the most and an explanation of why egg shells have an impact on snails.
1. Dry and arid:
One of the things snails fear most is a dry and arid environment. The soft bodies of snails have a high demand for water, and they absorb water through the body walls to keep the body moist. When the environment is too dry, snails lose water in their bodies, leading to dehydration and dehydration-related problems. This poses a serious threat to their viability. Therefore, snails usually live in humid environments to ensure that the body's water is not lost.
2. High temperature and direct sunlight:
Similar to dry environments, high temperatures and direct sunlight also pose a threat to snails. Snails are usually active at night or in a cool place to avoid exposure to sunlight. Hot weather can cause snails to increase their body temperature, increasing the rate of water loss in their bodies, so they are more susceptible to hot weather. High temperatures and sun exposure can make snails more likely to become dry and weak.
3. Salt:
Salt is one of the things that snails fear the most. The cells in the body of the snail have osmoregulatory mechanisms that maintain the balance of water in the body and in vitro. When snails are exposed to salt, their body water is quickly excreted in an attempt to counteract the penetration of salt into the body. This causes the snail to dehydrate and die quickly. Therefore, in agriculture and horticulture, people often use salt to control the number of snails because of its fatal effects on snails.
Regarding the effect of egg shells on snails, there are mainly the following explanations and theories that can be discussed:
The main component of egg shells is calcium carbonate, which can affect snails
The main component of egg shells is calcium carbonate, which has an important effect on snails. When calcium carbonate binds to the soil, it causes changes in the slightest alkalinity of the soil, creating an unfriendly environment for snails and slugs. This alkaline soil has an inhibitory effect on the activity of these molluscs, gradually reducing their numbers. In addition, the slightly alkaline soil after crushing egg shells can also help plants absorb more nutrients, so it also has important uses in agriculture and horticulture.
The effect of the hardness of the eggshell on the snail
Snails are mollusks and are relatively vulnerable to objects with higher hardness. After the eggshell is broken, its edges become hard and sharp, and when the snail passes by, it is easily scratched or stabbed, and may even cause its abdomen injury, which can be life-threatening. This physical threat causes the snail to avoid the area where the eggshell is located to prevent injury or death.
The effect of the smell emitted by egg shells on snails
Eggshells may give off a special smell that is very undesirable for snails and slugs. This smell may make them feel uncomfortable and even keep them away from the area near the eggshell. This taste acts as a biological repulsion mechanism that helps protect plants from these mollusks.
Although eggshells have some effect on snails, this effect is usually temporary and does not pose a serious threat to the survival of snails. Snails usually look for environments that are more suitable for their lives, rather than trying to cross a hard eggshell. In conclusion, snails do exhibit fearful or evasive behaviors when faced with some material and environmental behaviors that help them protect themselves from external threats.