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Leeches are commonly referred to as "grasshoppers" in some regions, and they are also known by other names such as "internal drills." These creatures belong to the Hirudinea class, a group of segmented annelids. They are divided into several species, including the Japanese doctor's leech (also called medical filer), the wide-bodied golden thread leech, and the brown willow leaf leech, among others.
1. The Japanese doctor's leech, also known as the medical filer, has a long, narrow, slightly cylindrical body, measuring 3-5 cm in length and 0.4-0.5 cm in width. It features a black back with green and five yellow vertical stripes, while its ventral surface is gray-green without any mottled patterns. The body consists of 103 segments, with only 15 distinct annuli. The male gonopores are located in the 31st to 32nd segment, and the female pores are found in the 36th to 37th segment. This species has five pairs of eyes, which are arched, and a front suction cup on the ventral side. Its esophageal fold is six in total, with E3 being semicircular and O teeth well-developed. The posterior part has a bowl-shaped structure, and the anus is located on the dorsal side. These leeches live in paddy fields and swamps, feeding on blood from humans and animals. They move using wave-like swimming and vine-like crawling. They are most active in spring, and their breeding season runs from June to October. One remarkable feature is their strong regenerative ability; if cut, they can regenerate a new body from the cut end.
2. The wide-bodied golden thread leech has a more spindle-shaped body that is flat, measuring 6-13 cm in length and 0.8-2 cm in width. Its back is typically dark green with five vertical lines made up of fine yellow and black spots. The middle line of the back is darker, and the ventral surface is pale yellow with many irregular greenish spots. It has 107 body segments. The male reproductive pore is located in the 33rd to 34th segment, and the female one in the 38th to 39th. Like the Japanese doctor's leech, it has five pairs of eyes, but the front sucker is smaller, and the odontoid structures are well developed. These leeches inhabit rice paddies, rivers, and lakes, feeding on small aquatic animals, insect larvae, mollusk larvae, and organic matter on the bottom.
3. The brown willow leech, also known as the small oystercatcher, has a slightly wider, leaf-like body with a brownish-green back and five fine green spots running vertically. Its ventral surface is pale yellow, and it has scattered dark green spots. It resembles the wide-bodied golden thread leech in most aspects.
II. Leeches prefer to live in hard water environments with plenty of rocks, pool bottoms, and shorelines. They often gather in shallow aquatic plants or damp soil and grass near the water’s edge. These plants provide both anchorage and protection.
In winter, when the temperature drops below 10°C, the Japanese doctor's leeches burrow into the soft soil along the water's edge to overwinter, typically at a depth of 15–25 cm. They begin to emerge when the temperature rises to 10–13°C. Leeches generally do not reproduce in water colder than 11°C. If placed in 43°C hot water, they escape, and at 45.5°C, they sink and die at 48°C. Replacing the water with clear water prevents them from surviving.
The eggs of the Japanese doctor's leech and the golden thread leech are usually laid in moist soil with a moisture content of 30–40%, and the soil must be well-aerated. Too wet or too dry conditions are not favorable for hatching.
Leeches have a broad tolerance for water pH, ranging from 4.5 to 10.1, making them a highly adaptable species. Most leeches can survive in low-oxygen environments for extended periods. For example, the Japanese doctor's leech can survive for three days without oxygen, while the golden thread leech can last two days.
Diet varies by species. The Japanese doctor's leech mainly feeds on vertebrate blood, including humans, livestock, frogs, and fish. In contrast, the wide-bodied golden thread leech and the brown willow leech feed on invertebrate fluids or carrion, such as snails, aquatic insects, and organic debris. During breeding, it's important to choose suitable food based on local availability.
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