Sea Lice
Posted by Tori Cameron on August 8, 2007
Q: Hi! I live on the Atlantic coast of south Florida. During the summer and spring it is very rare to see a local in the ocean because of a pest we call sea lice. When you get sea lice red bumps appear under your skin where your baithing suit was worn. They continue to multiply and stay for several months until they are deprived of oxygen. (People even put nailpolish on there skin in hope of getting rid of them.) I have been told they are actualy jelly fish eggs. So what are sea lice? Why do they live in our skin? What kills them? And are they atracted to the warm water or why are they so commonly found in our area? Thanks.
Habitat: ocean
State: Florida
Habitat: ocean
A: Although the common term is "sea lice", this animal is not a louse but a kind of larval jellyfish - not eggs - called a Thimble Jellyfish. There is a good website that will provide the details about this animal. Check out www.fau.edu
Thanks for writing.
John Wiessinger ( August 9, 2007)