Pomacea paludosa (Say, 1829) Florida Applesnail Eggs In Situ

    As urban sprawl destroys the last of the natural Pomacea paludosa habitat in Duval County, Florida the species has demonstrated remarkable adaptability to this new reality. This is well illustrated by the image below showing two egg clutches deposited on a cast off Publix Super Market shopping cart in a roadside drainage ditch off Kernan Boulevard in the southeastern part of the county which is undergoing rapid development.  When available (and it usually is), poured concrete is the substrate of choice for depositing egg clutches.  It should also be mentioned that at this particular locality the species is at least partially dependant on man for survival as the Pomacea were observed feeding on/completely devouring a cast off apple - a benefit of living next to a grocery store.

Kernan Boulevard, southeastern  Jacksonville, Duval Co., Florida 5/17/2006