New host and distribution records for the amphibian leech desserobdella picta (rhynchobdellida: Glossiphoniidae) from nebraska and wisconsin

Abstract

The leech, Desserobdella picta is reported for the first time from Nebraska. We found D. picta on five species of amphibians (larvae Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium, tadpoles of Bufo woodhousii, Rana blairi, and R. pipiens, and adult R. catesbeiana) from two eastern counties and one western county in Nebraska. We also observed this leech feeding on adult Hyla chrysoscelis and B. americanus in southeastern Wisconsin. Bufo woodhousii H. chrysoscelis and R. blairi are new host records. Additionally, we report the first record of this leech feeding on a human host. © 2005, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.