Leeches are invertebrates belonging to the segmented worm species, which generally live in water; they feed by attaching themselves to a host and sucking his blood. If one of these animals adheres to your body, you may feel uncomfortable and quite disgusted; however, by following the correct procedure to safely eliminate it, you run a minimal risk and there are no worrying consequences. If these worms are a persistent problem in your area, you can take additional steps to control their population.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Remove Leeches from the Body
Step 1. Try to detach the suction cups
Locate the mouth suckers in the front area (the thinnest end). Put a finger or fingernail on the skin next to the leech and gently slide it under his body; push the animal sideways to detach it. Repeat this action on the rear suction cup and pull the worm away from your body.
- Push the leech away once it is detached, as it will try to attach itself to your body again.
- Make sure you start detaching it starting from the thinnest part, the front, which is the "head".
- Throw it away from the water once removed; you can pour salt on her body to make sure you kill her, but only do so after peeling her off the skin.
Step 2. Wait for it to fall by itself
When it has sucked enough blood it detaches spontaneously, usually after about twenty minutes. If you can't take it off safely, you should leave it undisturbed and wait for it to finish feeding. While it may seem worrying to you, this invertebrate does not actually cause any serious pain or injury.
Throw it away once it falls. You can pour salt on her body to make sure she dies, but only do this after she has detached from the body
Step 3. Stop the blood loss
Leeches have anticoagulant enzymes that can cause bleeding. If the area affected by the bite continues to bleed after removing the worm (or after it has detached itself) apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze until the blood flow stops.
Step 4. Clean the wound to prevent possible infections
Leeches can leave a small lesion when they attach to the skin; clean it with warm water and a mild soap. Next, apply over-the-counter antibacterial ointment and put on a bandage; if the wound becomes infected, see your doctor.
Step 5. Avoid simply plucking the leech
It is a very flexible animal, difficult to grasp and even if you manage to successfully remove it and detach it from the body, you can actually aggravate the situation. By simply pulling it off, part of its jaw can get stuck in the skin, causing an infection.
Step 6. Do not try to burn or poison it in an attempt to detach it
Many traditional remedies to get rid of it involve lighting a match or flame on his body or pouring salt, alcohol, vinegar, or other substances. While these techniques offer a good chance of being able to get rid of it, the leech can actually regurgitate the contents of its stomach back into your body through the wound, causing an infection.
Step 7. See your doctor if needed
If the invertebrate has attached itself to a sensitive area, such as an eye or orifice such as the nasal cavity, vagina or penis, you need to see a doctor for help. The doctor is able to use special techniques and has the right tools at his disposal to remove the creature; it can also treat any infections or complications that may arise.
- You should see your doctor even if you have any signs of infection, irritation, or other unusual symptoms after the pet is removed.
- Signs of infection include redness, swelling, or pus exiting the wound site, as well as generalized pain and fever.
Method 2 of 2: Remove the Leeches from the Water
Step 1. Set up a trap
Take a metal can, such as a coffee jar, with a resealable lid and drill small holes in it. Put some raw meat inside, close the lid and tie a string around the can. Place the trap in the area where the water is shallow, where you suspect there are leeches; they will be attracted and want to enter the can to eat the bait. Once caught, remove the can from the water and throw them away.
- Leeches are most active during the warmer months. Leave the trap in place, check it every day during the summer season, and discard any worms caught. Repeat this procedure until you are no longer able to capture any or only a few specimens.
- The correct size of the holes to create on the lid depends on the species of leeches present in the area. If you can't catch any of them, try enlarging or narrowing the holes until you find the right size.
Step 2. Attract the ducks to the invertebrate infested area
These birds eat leeches and can help reduce their population; however, if you attract them by using duck food, you can increase the phosphorus levels in the water, encouraging algae growth. Among the duck species known to feed on leeches are:
- The collared duck (Aythya collaris);
- The bride duck (Aix sponsa);
- The musk duck, or moult (Cairina moschata).
Step 3. Maintain a good population of Lepomis macrochirus and largemouth bass
These fish are natural predators of leeches and can help keep their presence in check. However, this method only works for closed and private water sources, such as ponds.
Step 4. Limit aquatic vegetation and organic material
If they are excessively abundant in lakes and ponds, they contribute to the development of the leech population; if possible, avoid that they can exceed 10% of the surface of the body of water. Eliminate or reduce excess vegetation to combat the infestation of these invertebrates. Here are some methods:
- Minimize food for fish and ducks. The residues provide nutrients that increase the growth of aquatic vegetation.
- Manually remove the vegetation present in the water. It is best to remove the entire plant, including the roots and everything else; be sure to throw it away from the water, so that no residue remains that could be a source of nutrition for other plants.
- Dredge or deepen the bottom of the pond, as this makes it more difficult for plants to take root.
- Reduce the water level; lowering it during the cold season and frosts, the plants have a hard time stabilizing.
- Cover the backdrop. Place a sheet of plastic or layers of minerals on the bottom to discourage the development of aquatic vegetation.
- Introduce herbivores. Many varieties of ducks, geese, turtles, insects, snails, shrimps and fish feed on aquatic vegetation and can therefore reduce its growth. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is also thought to be particularly useful for this purpose.
- Use aquatic herbicides. There are several chemical herbicides on the market. Search or visit your local garden store. These products have a range of different side effects and kill fish; probably, it is necessary to apply them several times, because dead plants decompose in the water and contribute to the growth of new vegetation.
- Strictly respect all the instructions on the package and contact the office for the protection of the territory of your municipality before introducing any species that could be considered invasive.
Step 5. Use a chemical control method
You can use copper sulfate pentahydrate to control the leech population; the recommended dose is 5 ppm. However, this approach kills everything in the water, including fish and other creatures; you should therefore only use it in closed waters and without fish.
Cupric sulphate is toxic and must be handled appropriately; follow all safety instructions and follow the guidelines provided with the product
Advice
- You can prevent leeches from sticking to your skin by covering exposed areas when you enter water potentially infested with these invertebrates.
- Worldwide there are between 700 and 1000 species of leeches; most of these live in water, although some are found on soil.
- Although they can cause discomfort, these worms are unable to transmit disease to humans. They were in fact traditionally used for medicinal purposes and still today, on certain occasions, these creatures or their by-products are used to cure.
- Ask for permission before removing leeches from a public or private area that is not yours.
