New Host and Geographic Distribution Records for the Fish Leeches Placobdella translucens (Sawyer and Shelley, 1976) and Myzobdella reducta (Meyer, 1940) (Hirudinida)

Abstract The leeches Placobdella translucens (Sawyer and Shelley, 1976) and Myzobdella reducta (Meyer, 1940) are reported from Nebraska, U.S.A. for the first time. Individuals of M. reducta were collected from the caudal fins of 4 green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). A single pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) was infested with 2 individuals of P. translucens, constituting the first report of this species from a host. Placobdella translucens closely resembles Placobdella michiganensis (Sawyer, 1972) and Placobdella phalera (sensu Moore, 1906). In 1906, J. P. Moore established the most widely recognized concept of P. phalera when he “rather doubtfully referred” some material that he collected from Michigan to P. phalera (Graf, 1899). Placobdella phalera (Graf, 1899) was recently declared a junior synonym of Placobdella ornata. Given the similarities among the species, it is likely that at least some individuals previously identified as P. phalera (sensu Moore, 1906) represent P. translucens and/or P. michiganensis.