Staff Reporter
Beachgoers in Virginia Beach got an unexpected surprise this week when unusual marine creatures, known as blue buttons, began appearing along the shore. The sightings were reported at Dam Neck and Sandbridge, where locals captured photos of the small, flat, button-like organisms. At first glance, these creatures might look like tiny jellyfish, but marine experts confirm they are something entirely different.
Story Highlights:
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Blue buttons are hydrozoan colonies, not true jellyfish.
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Spotted at Dam Neck and Sandbridge in Virginia Beach.
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Hurricane Erin likely carried them from tropical waters.
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The creatures are small but can sting; experts advise caution.
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Most measure around two inches or less, some the size of a quarter.
Robert Donovan, a marine expert with the Virginia Aquarium, explained the unique nature of these creatures.
“It is not technically a jellyfish,” Donovan said. “They are gelatinous, yes, but they do not meet the criteria for a true jellyfish. What people are seeing is a colony of animals that collectively appear as a single organism.”
He compared blue buttons to the Portuguese man o’ war, noting that these are hydrozoan colonies, meaning that each “creature” is actually a complex community of individual animals working together.
The timing of these unusual appearances may not be coincidental. Meteorologists and marine biologists suggest that Hurricane Erin played a role in pushing the blue buttons toward the Virginia coastline. Typically, these organisms thrive in warmer, tropical waters and rely on wind and ocean currents to move. Unlike some sea creatures, they have no ability to control their direction, which explains why they appeared far from their natural habitat.
“The presence of blue buttons along Virginia Beach is a perfect example of how extreme weather events can transport marine life over long distances,” Donovan explained.
Blue buttons are deceptively small. Most measure about two inches across, though some of the specimens found along Sandbridge were even smaller, roughly the size of a dime or a quarter. Their flat, button-like appearance makes them easy to spot against the sand, but don’t let their appearance fool you. Despite their delicate look, these hydrozoan colonies can deliver a potent sting.
Beachgoers are being cautioned to keep their distance.
“The best thing to do if you see the blue button or any other floating hydrozoans in the water is to get out immediately,” Donovan warned. “Their sting can be dangerous and quite potent.”
Even when washed up on the shore, blue buttons are not safe to touch.
“I would not touch them. I would not pick them up. If you see them on the beach, give them a wide berth,” Donovan added.
As the late-summer season continues and more sightings emerge along the Virginia coast, experts say that beach visitors should remain vigilant. Blue buttons in Virginia Beach are visually striking, but they are best appreciated from a safe distance.
What are blue buttons?- Hydrozoan colonies that look like jellyfish but are not true jellyfish.
Where were they spotted?- Dam Neck and Sandbridge in Virginia Beach.
Are they dangerous? -Yes, their sting can be potent.
Can you touch them on the sand?- Experts advise against touching, even if washed ashore.
Why are they showing up now?- Hurricane Erin likely pushed them from tropical waters to the Virginia coast.
While blue buttons may look harmless and even beautiful, their potent sting makes them a risk for beachgoers. Experts urge caution and advise keeping a safe distance, whether in the water or on the sand. As more sightings appear along Virginia Beach following Hurricane Erin, visitors should stay alert and enjoy these unusual hydrozoan colonies from afar. Safety comes first, even in the face of nature’s strange coastal surprises.
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