Vampire Moth -- Now Identified!

[Moop]

The title of this topic (if not the accompanying photo) reminded me of something that I read awhile back. Now I'm not sure which is creepier - your nifty vampire moth, or this one. And to think they have us believing that they're such innocuous little creatures.

[lcatino]

Wow, what a cool moth. I've never really paid much attention to them. There is one in my window now, but if I start really checking it out, my husband will think I'm on crack.

But seriously, Very cool!

And on another note: I had no idea there was a website called whatsthatbug.com.

Nice pic's Sensei!

[syan]

The title of this topic (if not the accompanying photo) reminded me of something that I read awhile back. Now I'm not sure which is creepier - your nifty vampire moth, or this one. And to think they have us believing that they're such innocuous little creatures.

Ugh, the one in the link there is creepier! *shudders*

[Cloud]

Why now? Could you ever be certain? The obvious one.

[sensei]

Unfortunately, in extreme environments, lots of insects develop a taste for blood, if not for the nutrition, at least as a handy source of water. I recall going to the beach as a kid and sitting out on the porch, reading and soaking in the sea air, my arms, neck, face, and legs all covered with bug repellent against the variety of mosquitoes and big and small biting flies, safe, relaxed, complacent -- until a surprisingly intense jolt of pain alerted me to the teeny red ant that had just found a juicy vein between two of my toes. (The little line of red dots that had formed behind this scout, patiently waiting their turn at the drinking fountain, reminded me that in Nature's eyes, you're potentially a snack for all kinds of creatures, great and small.)

Dad to young daughter, who's rubbing scads of itchy red bites: "Look at it this way: you just gave some of your own heart's blood so that little baby mosquitoes could live."

Daughter to Dad: "I don't want little baby mosquitoes to live!!!!"