Learn

Have you heard of a bloodsucker? Another name for a bloodsucker is a leech, which is a small flat worm that lives in the water. When we think about leeches, we don’t have very good thoughts about them. They always get a bad rap as being these disgusting black, slimy things that stick to us and suck our blood.

But, the reality is that most species of leeches do not suck blood. Actually, they help decompose dead organisms at the bottom of ponds with suckers that are located on each end of their bodies. The front sucker is used to eat, and the rear sucker is used to crawl, however, they are also excellent swimmers.

The leeches that we always hear about, though, are the bloodsucking ones that also exist in ponds. These are called parasites, because they attach themselves to other animals and live by sucking their bodily fluids. Usually the animals that leeches prey on are other worms, snails, turtles and frogs. For the most part, leeches are not attracted to warm vertebrate mammals like people.

When leeches attach to their victim, they use their very developed jaws to break through the skin and suck fluids. Their saliva has a natural pain killer, so when they hook their mouth into skin, the animal can’t feel it. If you ever find a leech on you, don’t freak out. They don’t hurt, but remember not to pull it off, because parts of its mouth could stay in your skin and cause infection. Instead, put salt on it, or have an adult hold a lighter above it (leeches hate light!) This will make the leech drop off, and you should be fine.

While leeches feed, their bodies can swell to five times their original size. This gives them time to wait between feedings. In fact, leeches can get so full, that they can wait an entire year before eating again! Not only that, but if a pond dries up, or turns cold in the winter, leeches can burrow into the mud and live like that for many months.

Today, as in the past, leeches are used in medical surgery. They are sometimes put on a wound after surgery to remove the extra blood which often times causes swelling and pain. So, even though we know them as yucky bloodsuckers, they can do some good!