Re: Leeches in Woodland

17 years ago

This has happened a couple of times, I start to clean around a few of my ferns, hacking off some of the old dead fronds and moving a few little piles of leaves...sometimes when I uncover a few leaves there are leaches like you see in the water in between wet leaves...Do they come out of the water during wet times or are there a differn't land type of leach...anyone know or have something similar before. Tom in N.W. Pa.

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Comments (6)

User
17 years ago
You are probably seeing slugs. We have a couple of kinds in this area with the most common a gray leech looking creature. There is a larger brown with markings that the first time I saw one I thought it was a just born kitten because of the markings and the slime.
tomasincas
Original Author
17 years ago
Maifleur, its not like any slug I have ever seen ,but if you find any picture of the gray leech looking creature please send it .Any slugs that I have seen around here are quite thick and leave a slime trail...there was none present here. This had like a sucker toward the mouth end or what I presume was the mouth end.This looked very similar to the type that ataches to your leg or foot if you walk in creek water or weedy beds along a small lake shore.
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User
17 years ago
Having had leeches attached to me I am aware of what they look like. So I will do the could you post a picture routine. Some of the slugs here do not always leave a trail. One of the feelers for want of another name have holes in the end. Post a picture and someone will identify.

I envy you the ferns. I keep trying different types but only have one that has lived.
missa
17 years ago
Iwould be curious to know if you were to plunk one in a bowl of water and see how it swims. If it swims well its a leech. Leeches are black and are almost flat. they crawl like a worm when not in he water. i pull them out of my Pond filter on occasion. Creepy, though..... i dont like worms either and i LOVE to garden! have a nice day. melissa
tomasincas
Original Author
17 years ago
maiefleur and missa, The times I saw this,I didn't have a camera with me...however if I see one again I will try and run to the house and get a picture of it, the ones I saw last, were almost dark grey to flat black...and relatively thin...missa good idea...drop it in water and see if it swims..will go and see if Google has some differn't shots of them..If i can find one similar or one that matches..I will try and post it.Still wondering if they leave water
on moist days for some reason..thanks
User
17 years ago
In parts of europe there are leechs that do live in the weedy areas arround water. Supposedly we do not have them here??? Have found a few along small streams immediately after a rain but not recently.