PISCICOLA GEOMETRA

Order RHYNCHOBDELLIDA

Family PISCICOLIDAE

Piscicola geometra (Linneaus, 1761)

Identification

Key, plus text and illustrations, is provided by Elliott and Dobson (2015). Further information on separating this species from P. siddalli is available in Bielecki et al. (2012).

Distribution

Widespread and common in England and Wales, becoming less common in the north of England. Relatively localised in Scotland with most records from central areas. Recent records from 639 hectads.

Habitat and ecology

Ectoparasite of freshwater fish but free-living during breeding season. Occurs in a variety of freshwater habitats including ornamental fish-ponds, wave-lashed shores of lakes and in streams and rivers.

Red dots are historical (> 10 years old), black dots current (<= 10 years old).