Abstract
In northeast Poland approximately 50% of lentic and lotic sites sampled contained Theromyzon tessulatum. The seasonal pattern of changes in population structure was similar in both lentic and lotic sites. Breeding occurred between June through August when the new generation of young appeared in the field population. The overwintering population consisted of young-of-the-year and immature individuals produced the preceding summer, but which had not bred. The time taken for an individual to attain maturity was dependent on the number and frequency of the blood meals taken. A minimum of three full blood meals was required to reach maturity. The timing of these meals and the intervals between them determined whether breeding occurred when the leeches were approximately 12 or 24 months old.
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