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Daedalochila uvulifera (Shuttleworth, 1852) Peninsula Liptooth In Columbia County, Florida |
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| While returning from a shelling trip on 5/10/2009, Dr. Harry Lee stopped to check the roadside adjacent to the Lake City Airport on highway US-90 just east of Lake City, Columbia County, Florida to look for Daedalochila. Much to his surprise, a large number of empty shells (top row, center) of the predominantly southern Florida species, D. uvulifera, were found adjacent to the airport perimeter fence - an area which may have been repeatedly treated with herbicide. To date, this represents the northernmost location in Florida where the species has ever been found (see: Daedalochila uvulifera Records For Florida). | |
| Acting on directions provided by Harry, on 5/16/2009 this reporter visited the site - a location (GPS: 30.11114N 082.35160W - WGS-84 Datum) about 0.3 miles east of the junction of US-90 and County Road 245. A large number of empty Daedalochila uvulifera shells (about 237) were found along the fence. However some freshly deceased (top row, right) specimens were noted for the first time. A cursory search in vegetation around a nearby low culvert (image bottom row, left) subsequently yielded five live specimens - most of which were juveniles (top row, left). | |
| The next day this reporter returned to the airport area to conduct a more extensive survey. As on the previous day a large number of empty Daedalochila shells (about 170) were found as well as nine additional living specimens. The living specimens were again found in the area of the culvert (GPS: 30.11132N 082.35070W - WGS-84 Datum). The airport perimeter fence was reconnoitered further to the east, and Daedalochila shells were found from from 0.3 miles east of County Road 245 (GPS: 30.11114N 082.35160W - WGS-84 Datum) to 0.7 miles east of there (GPS: 30.11161N 082.34528W - WGS-84 Datum). | |
| A follow-up visit was made to the site on 5/24/2009 and the extent of the Daedalochila habitat was confirmed. In the intervening period since the previous trip, the roadside had been mowed and a large amount of rain had caused the location where the live shells had been found to be submerged. Only a single live specimen was found but a couple dozen freshly deceased Daedalochila were found. As during the two previous trips, a large number of weathered empty shells were also found. | |
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Location where the live Daedalochila were found |
Location where Harry found Daedalochila uvulifera |
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The fourteen Daedalochila found on 16-17 May |
Some of the freshly deceased specimens found on 24 May |
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