ONE of the rarest invertebrates in Scotland, the medicinal leech, has been noticed in Dumfries and Galloway for the primary time.
The presence of the medicinal leech has been confirmed in three ponds close to Carrick Shore on the Solway coast by Buglife, as a part of the Scotland-wide conservation programme, Species on the Edge.
Medicinal leeches are one of many UK’s largest native leeches, rising as much as 20 cm lengthy.
In Scotland, medicinal leeches have a darkish brown or black higher aspect with yellow-grey stripes and a speckled underside.
They are often present in a wide range of freshwater habitats, together with ponds, lochs, ditches, wetlands, and streams.
The medicinal leech is now identified in solely three areas in Scotland – mainland Argyll, Islay, and now Dumfries and Galloway – with their inhabitants having declined primarily as a result of overharvesting for his or her use in medication.
Within the late 18th to early nineteenth century, these leeches had been utilized in hospitals throughout Europe for bloodletting therapy.
While using leeches for medication is now unlawful within the UK, habitat loss and freshwater air pollution have badly affected medicinal leech populations in Scotland.
Buglife Conservation Director, Craig Macadam, mentioned: “Medicinal leeches have an vital place in our medical historical past however at the moment are one of many rarest invertebrates in Scotland.
“The invention of three new websites for this species in Dumfries and Galloway is extremely vital and offers us hope that additional websites are found for this unbelievable species sooner or later.”
In an effort to avoid wasting the uncommon leech from extinction in Scotland, Buglife is working with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) to ship Scotland’s first ever medicinal leech captive breeding programme.
14 leeches have been collected from one in every of their identified websites and transferred to their new dwelling, the place the conservation crew workers will take care of them and try and breed as many leeches as potential to then be launched again into the wild.
Fiona Strachan, Species on the Edge Programme Supervisor with NatureScot mentioned: “These data from one of many Species on the Edge mission areas are actually thrilling and, alongside the captive breeding programme, bode effectively for a extra promising future for the medicinal leech.”
For those who see a big leech in Scotland, please take a photograph and ship your sighting to Buglife at [email protected].
Please observe they’re uncommon and guarded, so if discovered connected to waders or wetsuits please gently brush them off and return them to the water.
