Invasive snail species prowls Ontario looking for mates to stab with 'love dart'

Each spring, all the creepy crawlies in Ontario start making their grand return. Midges wake up, ants get busy, and tiny European goth snails are slowly living their best life.

Meet the copse snail, also known as Arianta arbustorum.

This little gastropod originally comes from Europe (specifically, countries like the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland), but according to the biodiversity social network iNaturalist, it has quietly settled into parts of Canada too, including Ontario.

The copse snail has a dark brown shell with pale yellow speckles and stripes that sort of resemble a cinnamon bun if you stare at it long enough while hungry. Most grow to only two centimetres wide and are usually spotted in damp, shady areas.

But perhaps the most intriguing — and somewhat disturbing — fact about this species has to do with its love life. Copse snails use something called "love darts" during mating. These are tiny, sharp spikes made from calcium that one snail shoots into another before reproduction. Very romantic stuff.

Experts believe these darts help improve the chances of successful fertilization by "accurately shooting" mucus hormones into the other snail's body. Again, very romantic stuff. 

Listen, if I have to research how snails fornicate, then you, dear reader, are going on this bizarre ride with me.

Can you find copse snails in Ontario?

That depends on where you're located. According to iNaturalist, these snails love moisture and tend to hang out in forests, ravines, wet trails, and leafy areas with rotting wood and soft soil. They also move incredibly slowly, even by snail standards, travelling only a few metres a year (honestly, goals). 

If you're hoping to spot one yourself, Toronto has a few good places to start looking once spring rain hits. Areas near Grenadier Pond in High Park, the edges of the West Toronto Railpath, and lower sections of the Humber River can all offer ideal conditions. Experts say to check spots with low vegetation, damp logs, leaf piles, and muddy trail edges. 

While the species is already established in Canada and in the U.S., experts warn it could become invasive if these prolific breeders don't give it a rest. For now, though, Ontario's copse snails are just another tiny spring resident quietly sliming around the province.

If you spot any on your next nature walk, snap some pictures and share with us, Toronto, but beware the love darts.