Whatever you do don't use the local snail fauna. Most
likely its endangered. Helix aspera was introduced to the
US in the mid-1800's and has spread across the United States.
See if you can find it, as its a pest almost anywhere its found.
Try your local museum or university and ask if they have a
malacologist - they would be able to help you. Otherwise there
must be placed on the web for you to search on snails (but its not my
speciality so I don't know of any).
What species of snails are they? Decades ago (literally) I was interested in
land and freshwater snails; if memory serves, both groups are loaded with
internal para-sites. In my area of Illinois, there are few/no land snails,
but when I was in San Diego some time ago, I recall seeing snails everywhere
around the resort.
Best,
Chuck
--
Charles Powell, II/American Dendrobatid Group
http://www.hylaweb.com/frogday
Charles Powell, II/American Dendrobatid Group
http://www.hylaweb.com/frogday
