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Know More About Leeches

Leeches are commonly known as a kind of animals that suck blood, and there is fresh water, terrestrial and marine leeches. Scientifically it is categorized as annelids, which is segmented worms comprising the subclass Hirudinea. It is closely related to earthworms, and it is hermaphrodites that have both male and female reproductive organs.
Bodies of all leeches are divided into the same number of segments, with 34 altogether. They have powerful clinging sucker at each end. The mouth is in the anterior sucker and the anus is on the dorsal surface that is just in front of the rear sucker. The mouth of leech has 3 jaws, so the bite by the leeches will show a Y-shape mark.
When leeches bite and feeding with blood, there is a kind of secretion from the body of leech called hirudin will prevent the blood from clotting. Hirudin is a substance that gives valuable usage in medicine. It breathes through the skin by exchange of oxygen from the dissolved gases in the water. It tends to move to the surface when the oxygen content in the water is low.
The head and body surface of leech has the sensory organ to detect change in light intensity, vibration and temperature. It also has the chemical receptors on the head to detect smell. It could have one or more pairs of eyes.
Even though leeches have both male and female sex organs, they still need to mate for reproduction purpose. This involves intertwining of bodies where each deposits sperm in the others’ clitellar area. The clitellum secretes a tough gelatinous cocoon that contains nutrients, and this is where the eggs are deposited.
Most leeches are sanguivorous, they suck the blood of the host as food. They can ingest the amount of blood that is several times of their body weight. They can feed on the blood of mammals, frogs, fish and other parasitize. When they bite the host, their saliva contains anti-coagulant will keep the blood continue flowing. The wound will continue bleeding for a few hours even after the leeches detached. The best way to take out the leech when it bites us is by applying some salt or vinegar on to it, this will make it detach immediately. Some people use tobacco leaves to achieve the same purpose.
Leech has got a lot of medical usage be it in pharmaceutical or traditional medicine. Since its population is getting lesser due to the use of insecticide and herbicide, some people start to rear leech to supply to the factories. They are so many benefits that we can get from it and more study is needed to find out how it can help us to improve our health.
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For more info about leech, please visit http://www.leechhirudin.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Chai |
Lets’ Go Fishing
Catch More Walleye With Leeches

Any experienced Walleye angler knows that Walleye can be a challenge, but a very exciting and delicious one.
The goal for any angler is to catch more Walleye, and leeches can play a big part in meeting this goal.
When you and I talk about leeches, an important walleye fishing fundamental is at work.
The fundamental involves knowing the conditions you find yourself in so you can spend …
1. More time on productive water catching fish.
and
2. Less time on unproductive water.
It’s a simple concept, but it works like a charm.
Knowing when leeches will work well, and when to choose another type of live bait instead, can increase the time you spend catching walleye, and decrease the time needed to attract the fish.
With that out of the way, let’s dive right in to some seriously effective leech techniques. One way to make the leech more effective is to use a spinner along with the bait.
This method works well during the middle of summer until the end of this season.
If the temperature of the water drops to fifty degrees or below, leeches may not be the best option, and another live bait should be used instead for a better Walleye fishing trip.
During the summer months leeches can be an ideal bait, and ribbon leeches usually provide a lot of Walleye action.
Always make sure that your leeches are stored in a half full container of water, and that the water is from a lake or river and not the faucet.
This will keep them alive, and active for much longer. Walleye are not usually attracted to bait that hangs limply and does not move.
Because leeches work best in warmer waters, it is a good idea to head a little deeper.
On bright or sunny days, look to weed beds and underwater structure to find the fish.
This is where the Walleye hang out, to benefit from the shade and cover.
It may be necessary to slow down the presentation speed a little, because during the warmer months the fish may become slower, and only bite when something is very attractively presented to them.
A slower leech may get a hit when one offered at a faster speed may be completely ignored.
The Walleye may only take leeches which are easily available, and reject baits which require some effort.
At night and during overcast days the fish may move in closer to shore, and during these times leeches may work effectively even in four or five feet of water.
With the right bait and the right tackle, leeches can be one of the best baits around during certain times of the year and in certain waters.
Walleye Fishing Secrets is the multimedia program that has helped walleye anglers from across North America catch more and bigger fish. Here’s a Walleye Fishing Secrets success story video for you: Walleye Fishing Secrets Andrew Martinsen
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Martinsen