>> No, Sea Lice are something completely different that only occurs in parts >> of Florida and the Caribbean. Sea lice can make poison ivy look like a >> picnic. >"Sea lice" must mean different critters in different parts of the US. Steelhead >fresh from the saltchuck have parasites on them we called sea lice -- but they >were not jellyfish larvae, AFAIK. Don't know what their biological proper name is. In freshwater, there are two items. One is called "Swimmer's Itch" and is not uncommon throughout the US. It is a flukeworm that is not a parasite of humans, but of some other mammals found near water. Typically, you get the itch in COVERED areas, such as under a swimsuit, where the larvae are held against your skin longer than otherwise. They try to drill in but you don't taste so good so they quit. They usually originate from animal feces deposited in the water nearby or washed in. Skunks, Otters, Beavers, Muskrats, and some others are the usual hosts. I've been hit with this in Florida and there were reports last year from Algonquin P.P. and BWCA. There is also a freshwater Fishlouse. This is a Branchiuran, once thought to be a copepod. There are about 23 species of Argulus found in NA waters. They're parasitic on fish and tadpoles but not on warmblooded vertebrates. Some feed on the blood of their hosts, others on the external mucal layers. Confused enough? Sorry, don't know much about the saline lice.... JP *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jan 05 2000 - 11:43:25 PST
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