Vampire Moths Discovered | National Geographic

in far eastern Russia near the China

in far eastern Russia near the China border

border

border entomologists may have caught evolution

entomologists may have caught evolution

entomologists may have caught evolution in the act

in the act

in the act they found a previously undocumented

they found a previously undocumented

they found a previously undocumented population of vampire moths in South and

population of vampire moths in South and

population of vampire moths in South and Central Europe another moth species

Central Europe another moth species

Central Europe another moth species khalipa the leek tree feeds only on

khalipa the leek tree feeds only on

khalipa the leek tree feeds only on fruit but during experiments when the

fruit but during experiments when the

fruit but during experiments when the Russian moths were offered human hands

Russian moths were offered human hands

Russian moths were offered human hands they drilled their hook and barbed line

they drilled their hook and barbed line

they drilled their hook and barbed line tongues under the skin and sucked blood

it’s starting to hurt the blood sucking

it’s starting to hurt the blood sucking can go on for several minutes the

can go on for several minutes the

can go on for several minutes the scientists say some moths sucked for

scientists say some moths sucked for

scientists say some moths sucked for more than 20 minutes only male moths

more than 20 minutes only male moths

more than 20 minutes only male moths feed on blood an expert suggests they

feed on blood an expert suggests they

feed on blood an expert suggests they may do it to pass on salt to females

may do it to pass on salt to females

may do it to pass on salt to females during copulation doctoral candidate

during copulation doctoral candidate

during copulation doctoral candidate Jennifer’s Aspel a National Geographic

Jennifer’s Aspel a National Geographic

Jennifer’s Aspel a National Geographic grantee from the University of Florida

grantee from the University of Florida

grantee from the University of Florida in Gainesville suggests this behavior

in Gainesville suggests this behavior

in Gainesville suggests this behavior may have developed for reproductive

may have developed for reproductive

may have developed for reproductive reasons the sexual gift she said might

reasons the sexual gift she said might

reasons the sexual gift she said might provide a nutritional boost to young

provide a nutritional boost to young

provide a nutritional boost to young larvae that feed on leaf rich but sodium

larvae that feed on leaf rich but sodium

larvae that feed on leaf rich but sodium poor diets she also notes that some

poor diets she also notes that some

poor diets she also notes that some researchers hypothesized blood feeding

researchers hypothesized blood feeding

researchers hypothesized blood feeding evolved from animal related behaviors

evolved from animal related behaviors

evolved from animal related behaviors such as feeding on tears dung and pus

such as feeding on tears dung and pus

such as feeding on tears dung and pus filled wounds entomologist Chris nice

filled wounds entomologist Chris nice

filled wounds entomologist Chris nice suggests this behavior may eventually

suggests this behavior may eventually

suggests this behavior may eventually set the stage for blood to be

set the stage for blood to be

set the stage for blood to be incorporated into this species diet

incorporated into this species diet

incorporated into this species diet however according to experts a number of

however according to experts a number of

however according to experts a number of other factors would need to be present

other factors would need to be present

other factors would need to be present in order for this to occur Jaspal hopes

in order for this to occur Jaspal hopes

in order for this to occur Jaspal hopes to continue research on the vampire

to continue research on the vampire

to continue research on the vampire moths and compare the Russian

moths and compare the Russian

moths and compare the Russian populations DNA to that of other

populations DNA to that of other

populations DNA to that of other populations and other species she hopes

populations and other species she hopes

populations and other species she hopes to differentiate the blood feeding

to differentiate the blood feeding

to differentiate the blood feeding population from previously documented

population from previously documented

population from previously documented groups