Chums

I was in the garden yesterday, clearing the pond, and felt a pinprick
on my shin. Another insect bite, I thought, and bent down and swotted
at the black speck on my shin.

I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

It certainly didn't look insectlike, and I'd guess it was a mini leech
like critter. Any ideas as to what it would be?

It left a small red pinprick, and today it's quite itchy and has
swollen. This is pretty much par for the course for me, as insect
bites can often turn very nasty on me. But a little googling suggests
a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

Any ideas?

M

In article ,
Maurice W writes:
|
| It left a small red pinprick, and today it's quite itchy and has
| swollen. This is pretty much par for the course for me, as insect
| bites can often turn very nasty on me. But a little googling suggests
| a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

It might well. As far as I know, UK leeches don't carry anything nasty,
but leech bites are so rare that I am merely guessing. If you are
concerned, you could go and ask your GP a question he will not be
prepared for!

The reaction could be infection from bacteria on your skin or in the
water, as well as the bite itself. It it gets more than normally
swollen and pink, then definitely see a doctor.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Maurice W" wrote in message
...
Chums

I was in the garden yesterday, clearing the pond, and felt a pinprick
on my shin. Another insect bite, I thought, and bent down and swotted
at the black speck on my shin.

I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

It certainly didn't look insectlike, and I'd guess it was a mini leech
like critter. Any ideas as to what it would be?

It left a small red pinprick, and today it's quite itchy and has
swollen. This is pretty much par for the course for me, as insect
bites can often turn very nasty on me. But a little googling suggests
a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

Any ideas?

M

I once had lots of these things on my arms when I was clearing some 'stuff'
in a pond.

My reaction reminded me of a scene in "The African Queen" when Bogart (I
think) found these things - only larger - on his body and tried, horrified
and disgusted, to clear his skin of them.

I don't normally react to creatures in this manner, which made it memorable.
It was a primaeval reaction to a primaeval life form!

Yeuch!

There was no residual effect on me - except for the memory. I too normally
react badly to insect bites and stings. Even aphid bites make me suffer for
days - and nights - which is why I rarely go in the garden wearing less than
long sleeves and long trousers.

Mary

Nick Maclaren writes

In article ,
Maurice W writes:
|
| It left a small red pinprick, and today it's quite itchy and has
| swollen. This is pretty much par for the course for me, as insect
| bites can often turn very nasty on me. But a little googling suggests
| a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

It might well. As far as I know, UK leeches don't carry anything nasty,
but leech bites are so rare that I am merely guessing. If you are
concerned, you could go and ask your GP a question he will not be
prepared for!

The reaction could be infection from bacteria on your skin or in the
water, as well as the bite itself. It it gets more than normally
swollen and pink, then definitely see a doctor.

The leeches in the UK feed on a variety of things from decaying plant
matter upwards. There is only one in the UK that will feed on humans,
and that is about the size of your little finger and endangered.

The usual things that would look like very small black slugs in ponds
are flatworms, but I'm not aware of their having an ability to puncture
human skin.
--
Kay

On Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:35:18 +0100, Maurice W wrote:

I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

Were you standing in the pond or had pond water/grunge come in cotact with
your leg? The above description of the critter says leech to me.

But a little googling suggests a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

The bite itself is harmless it might bleed for longer than normal as I
think leeches have an anti-clotting agent so they can feed without having
to re-bite every couple of minutes.

However the pond water and grunge will have a lovely selection of
bacteria, viri and dirt to give your immune system a good work out. Clean
it apply antiseptic cream and if it doesn't improve in 24hrs it might be
work going to your doctor. If you get any tenderness just below the skin
in lines or red tender track lines go to your doctor immediatly, don't
think about it GO and don't accept an appointment in 24hrs you need one
now. If they can't see you go to the nearest A&E. You have picked up
cellulitis a really rather nasty bacterial infection. It responds to
antibiotics but you don't want it to get a hold or you could well end up
like me in hospital for 3 days, leg elevated, and being given 2g (yes
grammes) of intravenous pencillin every 4 hours.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

"Maurice W" wrote
I was in the garden yesterday, clearing the pond, and felt a pinprick
on my shin. Another insect bite, I thought, and bent down and swotted
at the black speck on my shin.

I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

It certainly didn't look insectlike, and I'd guess it was a mini leech
like critter. Any ideas as to what it would be?

It left a small red pinprick, and today it's quite itchy and has
swollen. This is pretty much par for the course for me, as insect
bites can often turn very nasty on me. But a little googling suggests
a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

I don't know of anything in pond water in this country that fits your
description, I've had a reaction/irritation on my arms from microscopic fish
parasites in the past but nothing that you could see. I go along with the
Tick theory.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
17mls W. of London.UK

In message , J L Williams
writes
The message
from Maurice W contains these words:

Chums

I was in the garden yesterday, clearing the pond, and felt a pinprick
on my shin. Another insect bite, I thought, and bent down and swotted
at the black speck on my shin.

I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

/unlurkio

Sounds like a tick, usually found in the northern parts and usually
where deer etc roam. It is postured to carry/cause diseases that are
found only in certain lines of latitude away from the equator ... like
MS
They feed on the blood of the animals that pass them by. They pass on
diseases via that method.
Jim

lurkio/

IIRC, ticks are not only found in northern parts; they're also prevalent
in the New Forest, for example. The most significant disease carried by
them is Lyme Disease aka Borelliosis.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

"Maurice W" wrote in message
...
Chums

I was in the garden yesterday, clearing the pond, and felt a pinprick
on my shin. Another insect bite, I thought, and bent down and swotted
at the black speck on my shin.

I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

It certainly didn't look insectlike, and I'd guess it was a mini leech
like critter. Any ideas as to what it would be?

It left a small red pinprick, and today it's quite itchy and has
swollen. This is pretty much par for the course for me, as insect
bites can often turn very nasty on me. But a little googling suggests
a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

Any ideas?


This sounds like a planarian worm, they're small, pond-dwelling 5 mm
black slug-like animals. They have little triangular heads and are sort of
cross-eyed looking. They've been studied in biology lessons for decades:
if you cut them in half through the head, the head will regenerate into two
heads. I am surprised you say it bit you, since they're scavengers and are
not carnivorous. Also, when you squash a planarian, it dissolves into a
black mass, with no blood involved. Maybe it was something else that bit
you? If it was a leech, you wouldn't feel it anyway, they inject an
anaesthetic before they draw blood.

someone

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

. I go along with the Tick theory.

--


ticks dont live in ponds.
you do not feel ticks when they latch on.
if you do see a tick attaching (unlikely in itself as they are so small to
begin with) and 'splat it', it will not smear blood as it has had no time to
drink any.
ticks do not resemble miniature black slugs.

so given the OP's description of events, I'd bet my mortgage it wasn't a
tick.

g.

In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley writes:
| In message , J L Williams
| writes
|
| Sounds like a tick, usually found in the northern parts and usually
| where deer etc roam. It is postured to carry/cause diseases that are
| found only in certain lines of latitude away from the equator ... like
|
| IIRC, ticks are not only found in northern parts; they're also prevalent
| in the New Forest, for example. The most significant disease carried by
| them is Lyme Disease aka Borelliosis.

In the UK! The same does not apply elsewhere in the world.

And the most common tick to bite humans in the UK, by far, is the sheep
tick - which, as its name suggests, is commonly associated with sheep.
They are ubiquitous throughout the UK, south to north, concrete jungles
excepted.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Maurice W" wrote in message

I was in the garden yesterday, clearing the pond, and felt a pinprick
on my shin. Another insect bite, I thought, and bent down and swotted
at the black speck on my shin.

I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

It certainly didn't look insectlike, and I'd guess it was a mini leech
like critter. Any ideas as to what it would be?

It left a small red pinprick, and today it's quite itchy and has
swollen. This is pretty much par for the course for me, as insect
bites can often turn very nasty on me. But a little googling suggests
a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

If I encountered the same sort of thing here in Australia, I'd be pretty
sure that it was a leech bite. Leech bites have a red centre and if the
leech is there for any length of time, the wound will bleed far more than
any similar sized bite. If it was a leech (and that seems doubtful given
that other posters don't think there are blood sucking leeches in the UK)
you may have caused part of its head to break off in the wound when you
squashed it and this could cause the swelling. Itchy is common after leech
bites. The usual way to remove leeches is to use a lit cigarette or salt or
Vicks Vaporub or similar smelly stuff or vinegar.

"Mary Fisher" wrote
"Maurice W" wrote .
Chums
I was in the garden yesterday, clearing the pond, and felt a pinprick
on my shin. Another insect bite, I thought, and bent down and swotted
at the black speck on my shin.

I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

It certainly didn't look insectlike, and I'd guess it was a mini leech
like critter. Any ideas as to what it would be?

It left a small red pinprick, and today it's quite itchy and has
swollen. This is pretty much par for the course for me, as insect
bites can often turn very nasty on me. But a little googling suggests
a leech bite wouldn't react in this way.

Any ideas?

M

I once had lots of these things on my arms when I was clearing some
'stuff' in a pond.

My reaction reminded me of a scene in "The African Queen" when Bogart (I
think) found these things - only larger - on his body and tried, horrified
and disgusted, to clear his skin of them.

A reminder :~)) http://www.vims.edu/env/research/lee...hics/Movie.gif

I don't normally react to creatures in this manner, which made it
memorable. It was a primaeval reaction to a primaeval life form!

Yeuch!

There was no residual effect on me - except for the memory. I too normally
react badly to insect bites and stings. Even aphid bites make me suffer
for days - and nights - which is why I rarely go in the garden wearing
less than long sleeves and long trousers.
Mary

I also wear at least long trousers, socks and boots when gardening as I tent
to get REALLY filthy otherwise !!
Jenny

On Aug 18, 9:11 pm, J L Williams wrote:
The message
from Maurice W contains these words:

Chums
I was in the garden yesterday, clearing the pond, and felt a pinprick
on my shin. Another insect bite, I thought, and bent down and swotted
at the black speck on my shin.
I caught a glimpse of something that looked like a very, very small
black slug, and when I swatted it splatted into a very small bloody
squidge.

/unlurkio

Sounds like a tick, usually found in the northern parts and usually
where deer etc roam. It is postured to carry/cause diseases that are
found only in certain lines of latitude away from the equator ... like
MS
They feed on the blood of the animals that pass them by. They pass on
diseases via that method.
Jim

lurkio/

I don't think it was a tick. I had a tick embedded in my hairline and
I didn't know it until, the infection tracked down my face. My GP
showed me a picture of it and it was a little round light coloured
thing, until it gorged itself on me. It was still attached when I was
treated. I picked it up in Houston, Texas.


Judith

In article ,
"JennyC" writes:
|
| I also wear at least long trousers, socks and boots when gardening as I tent
| to get REALLY filthy otherwise !!

That's a problem?

People pay good money for mud baths.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article ,
K writes:
|
| The leeches in the UK feed on a variety of things from decaying plant
| matter upwards. There is only one in the UK that will feed on humans,
| and that is about the size of your little finger and endangered.

Yes, but that's adult size. As far as I know, they are NOT one of the
animals that is vegetarian until adulthood, so there is no reason that
a newly hatched one could not have tried it on.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.