Abstract
The Ozark Highlands Leech, Macrobdella diplotertia, occurs intermittently throughout Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. Limited natural history of this species is known. Herein, we report a new county occurrence for this leech from a cattle pond in southern Marion County, Arkansas. We also report on the seasonal activity and novel hosts of this species. We surveyed the inhabited pond monthly to determine activity and collected natural history data on this species. This study indicated that this species appears to be most active in spring, summer, and early fall, but inactive during the winter. We also documented five new anuran hosts for this species. The Central Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, was also present in this pond, which further supports a mimetic relationship previously proposed between these two animals.
Recommended Citation
Connior, M. and Trauth, Stanley E.
(2010)
"Seasonal Activity of the Ozark Highlands Leech, Macrobdella diplotertia, (Annelida: Hirudinea) in North-central Arkansas,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 64, Article 16.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol64/iss1/16
