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elleng

(136,043 posts)
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 08:11 PM Aug 2018

Sea Lice Outbreak Makes Ocean City Beach-Goers Miserable.

Swimmers at Ocean City beaches have been plagued by sea lice this week. The pests are actually the larvae of jellyfish and carry a sting.

OCEAN CITY, MD — Swimmers at Ocean City beaches have been plagued by sea lice this week. The pests are actually the larvae of jellyfish and carry a sting. Which is awful timing when this weekend's forecast calls for sunny skies and highs in the low 80s at the Eastern Shore.

The water infestation isn't limited to Ocean City, said the town's beach patrol on Facebook Thursday. "The Eastern Seaboard is experiencing this nature phenomenon. Sea lice is really larvae. They can get into bathing suits while swimming and cause discomfort. Our best advice is to rinse with fresh water," the patrol said.

Laura Gwyn of Potomac told The Baltimore Sun her two kids, ages 13 and 15, were stung by sea lice while swimming near 89th Street. They had heard about the sea lice, but decided to jump in when a lifeguard said that quickly rinsing off would get rid of the critters.

"They were fine for probably 10, 15 minutes," Gwyn said. Then, "they started losing their minds," and ran out of the ocean, scratching frantically, she said.'

https://patch.com/maryland/annapolis/sea-lice-outbreak-makes-ocean-city-beach-goers-miserable?



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Sea Lice Outbreak Makes Ocean City Beach-Goers Miserable. (Original Post) elleng Aug 2018 OP
Darn, I'm supposed to spend some time nearby at Bethany, DE beach. JoeOtterbein Aug 2018 #1
Sorry. We used to go there, elleng Aug 2018 #2
Hopefully they will drift out by the time I get there JoeOtterbein Aug 2018 #6
YES, I hope so! elleng Aug 2018 #7
Stink bugs, bed bugs, super lice. Now 'Sea Lice,' new one for me. appalachiablue Aug 2018 #3
Just read about them, not really 'lice' or 'bugs,' elleng Aug 2018 #4
Yep! They sting like little spikes. Almost as bad as the jellyfish. JoeOtterbein Aug 2018 #5
Got that part, thanks. appalachiablue Aug 2018 #8

JoeOtterbein

(7,788 posts)
1. Darn, I'm supposed to spend some time nearby at Bethany, DE beach.
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 08:17 PM
Aug 2018

I was hoping on grabbing a few good waves while I'm there. Those little buggers can be a real kill-joy!

elleng

(136,043 posts)
2. Sorry. We used to go there,
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 08:22 PM
Aug 2018

and my daughter just left OC , where she has a condo. They used the pool.

JoeOtterbein

(7,788 posts)
6. Hopefully they will drift out by the time I get there
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 08:42 PM
Aug 2018

the day after Labor Day.

I want some great waves to ride!

appalachiablue

(42,906 posts)
3. Stink bugs, bed bugs, super lice. Now 'Sea Lice,' new one for me.
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 08:25 PM
Aug 2018

And I've lived in and visited OC and Delmarva since a kid. Ugh!

elleng

(136,043 posts)
4. Just read about them, not really 'lice' or 'bugs,'
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 08:28 PM
Aug 2018

but 'the translucent creatures are almost invisible to the naked eye when they're in water, and they're actually the larvae of the thimble jellyfish.'

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