Saturday, August 1, 2009

Be Careful What You Wish For...


The brown algae (Pilayella Littoralis) that washes up on Lynn Beach gives off an interesting odor. I try not to breath in to deep when I pass by. Naturally, I’m not fond of the brackish, slimy stuff clinging to my skin and hair as I swim either.
You can’t blame me for wishing it would just go away.
I thought my prayers had been answered the other day when we stopped by and found the water without it’s usual brownish tint. Our praises to the powers that be was short lived. The tide was infested with Baltic Isopods. These insect-like relatives of shrimps and lobsters are plain old creepy in a bug sort of way. They don’t bite or sting, but the sharp little legs of the larger ones feel like they’re trying too.
The real kicker?
They eat brown algae.
Like the little old lady who swallowed a fly, the cure is questionable. I’d wish the little beasties away, but I’m afraid of what would take their place.