PHOTO PROVIDED

Terrence Coulter, of Springfield, Missouri, found a junonia on the morning of July 26 on Captiva. He was swimming about 30 yards offshore in water 3 feet deep when he saw what he thought was an alphabet cone and dove down to retrieve it. When Coulter surfaced and opened his palm, he stared in disbelief. “There, resting in my hand, was a junonia,” he said. “I couldn’t believe my luck.” For the past 20 years, the island has been a favorite vacation destination for Coulter’s family, and he has grown an “amateur” passion for shelling. He noted that he found the “Holy Grail” of shells on the last day of their vacation — and even bought a lottery ticket hoping that his lucky streak would continue. “While I didn’t win the lottery, the joy of finding a junonia was more than enough,” Coulter added. “Maybe one day, I’ll find another junonia. Until then, the memories of that perfect summer day and the magic of my discovery will always bring a smile to my face.” To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@breezenewspapers.com.