Thousands of mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca) jellyfish beached at Pretty Bay in Birżebbuġa, marine biologist Alan Deidun said.

Uploading photos on Facebook, Deidun said this species reproduces en masse at this time of year, with the adults dying off as soon as they release their eggs.

The new generation will come of age in a few months’ time, and one should expect a new mauve stinger jellyfish bloom in early-mid spring (April/May).

This beaching at Pretty Bay is the result of continuous unseasonal south-east wind (xlokk) blowing over the past few days.

Deidun thanked Raymond Tabone and to the Cleansing and Maintenance Department for the photos and the alert.