Evolution has a funny way of taking something completely harmless and turning it into a creature that should be avoided. How these moths managed to start out as fruit eaters is beyond us, but their proboscises have evolved into something that eats more than just fruit juice.
Meet the vampire moth.
Share away, people.
Meet the vampire moth.
Image Credit: Boredom Therapy
One would think the name alone is intended to just scare people away, but there’s a good reason for the name. These seemingly harmless moths will latch onto you and start drinking your blood.
One would think the name alone is intended to just scare people away, but there’s a good reason for the name. These seemingly harmless moths will latch onto you and start drinking your blood.
Image Credit: Boredom Therapy
The moth lives in countries such as Malaysia and the Urals, but has recently turned up in northern Europe. The species was only recently discovered in 2008.
The moth lives in countries such as Malaysia and the Urals, but has recently turned up in northern Europe. The species was only recently discovered in 2008.
Image Credit: Boredom Therapy
They pierce an animal’s skin with their long proboscises and start going to town on their new meal. They’ve been known to latch onto humans as well, but unlike mosquitoes, they don’t transmit any disease.
They pierce an animal’s skin with their long proboscises and start going to town on their new meal. They’ve been known to latch onto humans as well, but unlike mosquitoes, they don’t transmit any disease.
Image Credit: Boredom Therapy
Also unlike mosquitoes, it’s the male moths who do the eating, and it’s believed that they do this in order to pass on salt to the females that they mate with. This could be a result of lacking certain minerals in their normal diet, and finding a way to compensate for that absence.
Also unlike mosquitoes, it’s the male moths who do the eating, and it’s believed that they do this in order to pass on salt to the females that they mate with. This could be a result of lacking certain minerals in their normal diet, and finding a way to compensate for that absence.
Their bites, however, are more irritating than those of a mosquito, so you’re in a world of annoyed scratching if one of these has already made a meal out of you. Perhaps this is one time when a good can of bug spray would come in handy to keep these creatures away from us.