Many Hoosiers were surprised last month to learn that armadillos can be spotted roaming around southern Indiana. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources once again shared the existence of an animal no one would expect to find in Indiana: jellyfish.
But don’t worry, the reason why you may not have known is because they pose no harm to swimmers.
Here’s what to know.
Are there jellyfish in Indiana?
Indiana DNR shared in a Facebook post on Sept. 2 that yes, there are indeed jellyfish in Indiana.
Freshwater jellyfish have been observed statewide in a variety of aquatic habitats. They can occur in virtually any type of waterbody if conditions allow, including lakes, ponds, quarries, reservoirs,and even sluggish streams and rivers.
Where have jellyfish been spotted in Indiana?
According to commentors on the Indiana DNR Facebook post, Hoosiers have spotted jellyfish over the years in Saugany Lake, Blue Springs Lake (Waldron), Chinook Fish and Wildlife Area, Dogwood Lake, Patoka Lake and several others.
What do the jellyfish in Indiana look like?
Freshwater jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii), also known as peach blossom jellyfish, are found in North America and in Indiana. These jellyfish are quite small, with a clear or translucent white bell-shaped body that is only about the size of a dime or nickel.
They can typically be seen in late summer during August and September, meaning now is the perfect time of year to try and spot them.
Their appearance is sporadic and unpredictable. Individual freshwater jellies can be spotted as they rise to the water surface in the afternoon to early evening, especially on clear and warm days in calm water.
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Do freshwater jellyfish sting? Are freshwater jellyfish dangerous?
Although they do have stinging cells on some of their 500 tentacles that they use to catch their prey (typically zooplankton), there have been no reported cases of freshwater jellyfish stinging humans. Due to their size, their stingers on their tentacles are much too small to sting larger organisms.
Acording to Indiana DNR, unlike some marine jellyfish, the freshwater jellyfish does not pose a hazard to swimmers. Since they are so small and they won’t sting you, you don’t need to worry about swimming in a body of water with them in Indiana.
More strange Indiana wildlife: Armadillos are becoming more common in Indiana. Do they carry diseases? Can you trap or kill them?
Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Do freshwater jellyfish sting? Are they dangerous to swimmers? What to know