What's with all the snails on my door??!!

[SanFranBear]

Is anyone able to help me understand why my front door appears to have become a haven for a hoard of teeny little snails...?

We changed our door probably about 6 weeks ago and I've seen a few more than normal but tonight is crazy.. there's about 20 or so - definitely feels like a planned 'invasion' rather than a happy accident! There was zero interest in our previous door!

They can't get in and I'm not wanting to necessarily stop them - but what on earth is going on?

You are the snail queen and your subjects have arrived to worship you 🐌

Is it snail sexy time, like the stag rut?

At a guess, there was some sort of protective film on the plastic and they’re eating the residue. They live glue and paper and all sorts of odd stuff

If it is glue residue attracting them then giving the door a good wash with hot, soapy water should help

It’s the heat. Slugs do it too. There will be a temperature difference on the surface of the door that attracts them

😱😱😱 I wouldn't be able to open my door!!

We're having a minor slug invasion too - apparently our end of the village is currently the perfect temperature/humidity for slug euphoria.

We've had 2 tiny ones on the inside of our door this week!

Oooh... the film residue from the new door is definitely a potential as they peeled something off after it was fitted)

I guess it won't hurt to give it a wash down but at the same time, if they're not causing any harm - and I really can't see them doing so - I kind of want them to feast to their hearts content! Although if its for 'sexy time', maybe not 😆

I like the idea of being a queen.. but of snails?

It is the warmth. Slugs are so attracted to slight heat differences that they cause significant damage to electric gate mechanisms at this time of year. Snails are similarly attracted to warmer surfaces

Just to check - they're not going to cause any problems, are they? Other than the rather eerieness of this, as long as their slime isn't going to do anything to the new door, I think I'll just leave them to it.

Thank you for all your thoughts... I was a little freaked out earlier when I turned around from putting something in my wheelie bin and was met by a sea of snails.. although I have now learned that they are called an escargoterie, a rout or a walk of snails!