Two Invasive Species In Lake Michigan That Will Make You Itch

I'll be honest, I am deathly afraid of the ocean but that's a reasonable fear when you think about it. The oceans and seas cover ~70% of the Earth's surface but we have only discovered a little over 5% of the ocean's mass. I'm good on that to be real, there's so many different living organisms and species within the ocean and sea waters that we have no clue exist and I'd rather stay on the safe side.

Speaking of the safe side, most lakes are much safer than the oceans as they don't quite have the marine life that the ocean or sea does. Large lakes give you almost all of the vibes that the ocean does minus the large surfing waves, giant cruise ships, and salty water. Although they are safer, there are a significant number of living organisms and species within lakes as well, especially those as large as the Great Lakes. Some of those species are invasive and can cause harm, like these two in Lake Michigan.

Yeah, the title is supposed to be funny but it is also a literal title as both of these invasive species could cause rashes that will itch. It has been confirmed that Lake Michigan, the second largest Great Lake behind Lake Superior, has both sea lice and spiny water fleas. Both of these species have invaded the Great Lakes but only one of them is attacking swimmers.

Skinny On Sea Lice

Sea lice cause Seabather’s eruption which is a skin rash that consists of tiny, transparent larvae from jellyfish or sea anemones as they attach themselves to your swimsuit or other clothing. Although they are called Sea Lice, they are not related to head lice whatsoever, instead of intentionally biting on your flesh and feeding off your body, they release a stinging toxin into your skin as a defense if they remain trapped in your swimsuit long enough or become pressed against your skin.

You'll normally see a reaction within 24 hours if you have been stung and lasts about 2 weeks but can last up to a month in some cases. For most people, the worst part is the itching and discomfort. But anytime you have a rash or break in your skin, there’s the added risk of infection. Here are other symptoms and signs of Seabather's eruption:

• Extremely itchy.
• Red and raised, resembling acne pimples, blisters, or welts.
• Abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Fever.
• Malaise (feeling unwell).
• Nausea and vomiting.

Stats On Spiny Water Fleas

The Spiny Water Flea is categorized as a planktonic crustacean that feasts on smaller planktonic species as their normal diet. Humans are safe from this invasive species but just their mere look of 15 millimeters long, large eyes, and long tail is enough to make your skin itch.