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Ponds in the UK

When I was cleaning out the bog/lily-pond I got bitten

21 years ago

by something. I was bare legged in the pond and the bite marks were neat circles slightly less than 1/8" in diameter. One bite was mid thigh , another was mid calf and the third was ankle height. The mid calf bite is level with my wellies tops.

At the time I just hoses my legs down so I didnt get azolla etc inside my trousers.

I suspect the culprits are either leeches or cleggs but the latter are generally felt, I didnt feel a thing.

The following day the I quite suddenly developed a sore spot at my welly top and thought I had got a trapped fold in my trousers, I shifted my trousers and the sore spot remained so I had a look and it was the bite, it wasnt septic but looked rather angry. Germoline and a plaster were applied, that evening it was still angry looking so I gave it a vigorous washing. It looked better in the morning otherwise I was going to casualty. Its still red but not nasty looking, the ankle bite is a wee bit red and the mid thigh bite isnt red but itches at times.

The moral is, if you get similar bites be a big girl and wash them well immediately and antiseptic cream them.

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Comments (4)

chippewacat
21 years ago
Now you know how Humphrey Bogart felt in the African Queen, only the leeches were bigger!
Aaron_UK
21 years ago
There are very few leeches in this area that bite and those are generally rare. Other water creatures that may bite include water boatmen and saucer bugs.
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Annabel_uk_
21 years ago
just dont get in there ;-)
I am more afraid of the koi getting me,,they are getting biggies!
calypso
21 years ago
I have seen leeches in our (quite large) pond in Essex -- they were about 2 inches long and maybe 1/2 inch across. I fell in once while trimming an over-hanging rose bush but having already seen the little beasties I got out again in a hurry ! I assume they must have been introduced to the pond on a purchased plant.

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