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We are used to consider butterflies as the embodiment of lightness, beauty and harmony. However, among these marvelous creatures of nature there are real blood-fed vampires, and in particular human.
Oddly enough, blood-sucking butterflies were discovered in Siberia, and they turned out scoops. Yes, yes, those very night ones the moths that flock in the evenings to the light do not mind eating our blood.
A photo from open sources
However, lepidopteran vampires (although belonging to others species) can be found in other regions of the planet. For example, butterflies inhabiting Southeast Asia can even pierce a thick rhino or buffalo skin. There are bloodsucker butterflies in Africa, and also in Eastern and Southern Europe.
Russian lepidopterologist first discovered a vampire scoop (specialist studying butterflies) Vladimir Kononenko. However became the official “discoverer” of this natural phenomenon in 2006 Jennifer Zaspel, an entomologist from the University of Florida. She believes that the vampire butterflies she discovered are close relatives of Vasilistina scoops, living in a number of areas Of Europe.
A photo from open sources
Only male scoops vampire
The wingspan of this scoop, which is also called crested, is 40-45 millimeters. Her long and hard proboscis is equipped the tiny suction cups that attach it to the victim’s skin. A because initially this proboscis served as butterflies for drinking water and juice plants, winged gourmets adapted to pierce the hard the peel of some fruits. There are tropical species of butterflies, who drink not blood, but the tear fluid of large animals.
A photo from open sources
It should be noted that the injection of the vampire’s proboscis is rather painful. The bite site, however, does not itch, as from a mosquito, but remains a small wound that can still bleed for a long time. Butterflies if do not drive them away from the puncture site, they will suck blood for 5-20 minutes.
In order not to blame all the scoop in a row, we clarify that “bloodshed” only males are involved, and females are content with fruit juice and plants. To distinguish vampires from females of their own species and vegetarian brothers can be according to a specific pattern on the wings.
A photo from open sources
And yet, why do butterflies need blood? For what purpose did are they on such an unusual diet? There is an assumption that males get salt from the blood of their victims, which at the moment mating is transmitted to females, and they provide larvae with it. Salt and or rather sodium, the latter is necessary for successful development.
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