Janet D. Stemwedel (whose nom de blog is Dr. Free-Ride) is an associate professor of philosophy at San Jose State University. Before becoming a philosopher, she earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Email her at dr.freeride@gmail.com.
When the snail hunter is away, the gastropods will play.
It should be noted, though, that the slugs and snails I found today were not playing in my vegetable garden. That's progress.
Conditions this morning were dry and overcast. However, it rained a little over the weekend, and our wee lawn was watered once with the sprinklers. Most of what I found today was on the lawn or in easy gliding distance from it.
Another observation: I found some slugs clustered around wee, shriveled fallen lemons on the lawn. These slugs were much less responsive to touch than were the gastropods who hadn't been feeding off lemons.
Today's take: 49 slugs and 12 snails.
Environment
Comments
Selecting for resistance to lemons is a novel trait. I'm not sure I see what this will lead too. Perhaps you're planning for your race of nasty flying intelligent waterproof superglue-slimeing to spit acid when attacked? Or when they attack?
Or maybe you're planning on starting a chain of snailade stands, featuring fresh lemony gastropods? (I think you should reconsider that idea. Whilst both escargot and lemonade are tasty, I'm unconvinced they'd taste great together.)
Posted by: blf | June 15, 2009 5:20 PM
janet - isn't it time you hired The Snail Whisperer? Or are you too cheap to... shell out for one?!
Posted by: Ian | June 16, 2009 7:19 AM