2006-06-23 09:07:58 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Not all the leeches will stick to you! Only the haemophagic parasitic blood-sucking leeches. They feed on the blood of vertebrates such as amphibians (frogs,reptiles etc.), waterfowl, fish, and mammals. Given the opportunity, they will also feed on human blood. (Human is not a good target because we can easily remove them).
If you intend to swim or walk in leech infected areas or waters ( a small pond, a swamp, wet vegetation, but usually not a lake or river) then you will probably get biten! Dont worry you want feel any pain at all. Thats because Leech saliva contains a number of compounds which assist in its feeding. An anaesthetic limits the sensations felt by the host (and thus reduces the chance of the host trying to detach the leech).
Thats why It is common practice for people leaving leech-infested waters or wet vegetation to conduct an inspection of themselves to ensure that no leeches are attached.
Best advise is not to swim in leech- infested
waters (unles you want to watch them feed on you!) and be carefull were you walk!
The most effective step is not to expose bare skin, preferably by wearing leech socks. Leech socks, calico oversocks worn outside the socks and trousers provide a degree of protection, since they prevent leech entry at ankle level. The pale material from which they are usually made makes it easy to spot leeches as they climb looking for the next area of bare skin on the arms or neck.
Hope that helped!
2006-06-23 10:08:17 · answer #1 · answered by ragzeus 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
uhm. yes, they will bother you and yes they will stick on you if you are swimming. Leeches have two sucking ends and though they feed on blood and are used by some doctors to remove bad blood, they have about 300 tiny sharp teeth which I don't think many people would like to be on them while they're swimming. you get the idea.
2006-06-23 09:16:28 · answer #2 · answered by teardrop 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you are in leech-infested waters they will attach to your skin. They produce a natural anesthetic so you don't feel them and they produce an anticoagulant so your blood won't clot. To get them off cover them with salt. It sucks all the water out of them which kills them.
2006-06-23 09:11:49 · answer #3 · answered by frugernity 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutly unless you are in a pool!
And the only way to get them off is to pour table salt on them. If you tug at them you will pull their bodies off and the heads will keep sucking your blood.
Sorry but it's the truth.
2006-06-23 09:13:28 · answer #4 · answered by mary s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definately.
2006-06-23 09:09:00 · answer #5 · answered by valstellc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you touch them then they will definitely stick.... that's why they are called leeches lol.
2006-06-23 09:09:44 · answer #6 · answered by ongo_run 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they will try to stick to you if you are swimming.
2006-06-23 09:09:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there are leaches in the lake, they will definitely stick to you and suck your blood. Not very pleasant to say the least.
2006-06-23 09:10:22 · answer #8 · answered by Rockstar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, 100% chance.
2006-06-23 09:09:52 · answer #9 · answered by Rachelle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a pond or lake or stream but not a pool
2006-06-23 09:09:27 · answer #10 · answered by suziQ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋