Don’t Let These Beach Bugs Ruin Your Summer Vacation

 

What kind of wildlife do you expect to see when planning a beach trip? You may have an idea; perhaps you intend to continue a crab hunting tradition, enjoy fishing on the pier, or have had your fair share of food stolen by pelicans. Much like in the forests, woods, and mountains here in Alabama, biodiversity is abundant on our gorgeous beaches along the Gulf Coast. 

In the days leading up to your trip to Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, you’re likely daydreaming about the clean, white, glittering sands and the turquoise waters—not the critters that dwell there. However, it is essential to remember that the beach, like any natural environment, can expose you to pests: creatures that impede your enjoyment by biting, stinging, contaminating food, or simply repeatedly flying into your face and being a nuisance. 

As experts in integrative pest management, we consider these factors essential in preparation for beach trips, more so than the average person. To help ensure you have the best beach vacation, we’re here to warn you about beach bugs, like sand fleas, and other animals to watch out for. We’ll also share our best advice for preventing them from bugging you and your family. Just keep reading to learn more! 

Watch Out for These Beach Bugs & Animals:

Sandfleas

Sandfleas are among the most notorious “beach bugs,” although they aren’t bugs at all; they’re crustaceans, more like itty-bitty crabs. Instead of pinching you like a crab would, sand fleas leap onto their targets and bite like actual fleas (insects), which is where they got the name. 

Sandflea bites are similar to those left by mosquitoes or regular fleas, causing itchy red welts for a few days. However, female sand fleas can do more damage than a regular bite from a male can. When a female sandflea is ready to lay her eggs, she will bite a warm-blooded host (a person or other mammalian animal) and tunnel into the skin, not emerging until she lays the eggs.

The best ways to prevent you and your pets from getting sandflea bites are pretty straightforward:

• Don’t lay directly on sand: sit on a chair or towel.
• Wear bug spray that contains Deet on your legs. 
• Thoroughly check your pet’s fur after taking them to the beach.
• If you visit the beach at night (when these creatures are most active), wear closed-toed shoes and pants that cover your legs and any part of your body that you think will come into contact with the sand.

Sand Flies

Unlike sandfleas, sandflies are insects (in the fly category, as their moniker suggests). They are usually found near rotting kelp and seaweed, where they breed and feast. Similarly to mosquitoes, the female sandfly needs a blood meal from a warm-blooded animal (i.e., people, cats, dogs) to develop her eggs before she lays them. 

So, sandflies will bite you and drink your blood if given the opportunity, which can cause diseases like Pappataci fever or Carrion’s disease. The best way to prevent sandflies from biting you, and the potentially resulting health consequences, is to stay away from beach areas covered in kelp and follow the advice for preventing sandflea bites we listed in the previous section. 

Other Beach Creatures to Look Out For

Although we wouldn’t classify them as “beach bugs,” you should be on the lookout for these creatures next time you’re on the beach to avoid the health consequences or general annoyance they can cause:

• Beach hoppers: They look like little shrimp and are harmless, but you want to make sure they’re not actually sandfleas. They are sometimes mistaken for each other as small crustaceans that wander in the sand more than in the ocean.
• Jellyfish: Whether you think it’s dead or alive, never touch a jellyfish that’s washed ashore.
• Blood worms: Although their name might make these guys sound scary, they’re not; they’re always bright red in hue! They’re not like lampreys or leeches that can latch onto other creatures (or people) and drain them of blood. However, it is best to leave them alone if you’re not a professional in identifying beach-dwelling worms. 

Take a Beach Trip for a Pest Free Home 

When you’re on vacation, it’s a great time to have our experts from Vulcan Termite & Pest Control apply preventative insecticide around the inside and outside perimeter of your Birmingham home, or address a pest problem using our safe integrative pest management methods. These methods ensure that you, your children, and your pets won’t be exposed to harmful chemicals, which can be harmful to inhale for 48 hours after application.

For 40+ years, our team of integrative pest solutions professionals from Vulcan Termite & Pest Control has proudly aided hundreds of families in Birmingham and nearby communities by eradicating invasive insect problems on their property. 

Call us today at 205-663-4200 or contact us online to request our services. We’ll gladly perform a FREE evaluation and create and implement an effective strategy using our tried-and-true methods, so you and your family can return from your vacation safely and comfortably to a pest-free home.  

Thanks for reading! Are you curious to keep learning about common critters found in Alabama or how to safely and humanely deal with them when they show up on your property uninvited? Check out more of our blogs for helpful tips, tricks, and educational content!

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