Retention Pond, Intersection of Interstate 295 and Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, Duval Co., Florida

      During a molluscan field survey on 10/11/2017, a population of Pomacea paludosa (Say, 1829) [Florida Applesnail] was discovered in a very small retention pond east of Interstate 295 (I-295) near exit ramp to Gate Parkway. A fairly large number of specimens were seen on the pond periphery as well as fresh egg clutches. The nearby Mill Dam Branch drainage system is known to have a population of Pomacea (discovered in 2006) and the snails may have migrated from there via a long underground culvert. A return visit was made to the area on 11/15/2017 and an additional Pomacea population was found in a near by small retention pond on the west side of the Interstate near the entrance ramp to I-295 south from Gate Parkway. Fresh snail egg clutches and numerous living snails were present. No connection between this pond and any other water body was apparent.

View of the retention pond just east of I-295 looking south

Pomacea specimens from the pond