Abstract An experimental procedure involving the use of time-lapse cinematography for accurately recording pathways was used to investigate the responses of Biomphalaria glabrata (Say) to a stimulus source of plant chemicals. This allows a more detailed analysis of the orientation mechanism than is the case with the Y-maze method. Snails of this species, which are essentially herbivorous, respond either by klinotaxis or tropotaxis or both to a source of plant chemicals. It was not possible to demonstrate the involvement of kinesis in the orientation mechanism.