Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (2024)

I know what you are going to say: “Moths have no blood.” That’s splitting hairs though—moths have liquid called hemolymph that performs similar function as our blood; it’s not red because there is no hemoglobin. In moths, lymph delivers nutrients throughout the body, while oxygen is delivered via the tracheal system straight to the moth’s tissues.

In any case, from the point of view of blood- (lymph-) sucking parasites, such as no-see-ums – the biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae – there is little difference. They are not after oxygen; they are after the aforementioned nutrients.

Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (1)
Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (2)

When I was photographing moths in Vietnam a few years ago and happened to look closely at the resulting photos of the Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa), I discovered some biting midges (genus Forcipomyia) sucking lymph from the moth’s abdomen and wing veins. Looking at the swollen, yellow bellies of the midges, there was little doubt about what they were after.

Last week, I was looking through photos I had taken of moths in French Guiana more recently. I was surprised to find more of such lymph-feeding midges on one of the large erebid moths that visited the blacklight setup. Both the Vietnamese and South American victims of the midges were very large moths, with wingspans of five to six inches.

Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (3)
Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (4)

Among other such post-processed discoveries were mites feeding on an equally large sphinx moth. What the mites get out of their association with the Sphingidae is not entirely understood, but they are frequently found on these fast-flying moths.

To view larger and additional images of midges and mites on tropical moths, see the gallery below.

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (5)

    Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa), Bach Ma, Vietnam

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (6)

    Forcipomyia biting midge on Lyssa zampa moth

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (7)

    Forcipomyia biting midge on Lyssa zampa moth

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (8)

    Forcipomyia biting midge on Lyssa zampa moth

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (9)

    Forcipomyia biting midge on Lyssa zampa moth

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (10)

    Biting midge feeding on an erebid moth, French Guiana

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (11)

    Biting midge feeding on an erebid moth, French Guiana

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (12)

    Pachylia sphinx moth, French Guiana

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (13)

    Mite feeding on Pachylia sphinx moth, French Guiana

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (14)

    Mite feeding on Pachylia sphinx moth, French Guiana

  • Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (15)

    Mite feeding on Pachylia sphinx moth, French Guiana

Additional references about midges that bite insects:

  • Wirth, W.W. 1956a. New species and records of biting midges ectoparasitic on insects. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 49:356-364.
  • Wirth. 1956b. The biting midges ectoparasitic on blister beetles. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 58: 15-23.
  • Wirth & D. H. Messersmith. 1971. Studies on the genusForcipomyia. 1. The North American parasitic midges of the subgenusTrichohelea. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 64: 15-26.
  • Borkent, A. & L.C. Rocha-Filho. 2006. First record of female adultAtrichopogonKieffer biting in the Neotropical Region. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 108: 998-1001.
  • Clastrier, J. & J. Legrand. 1984.Forcipomyia (Pterobosca) pinheyinouvelle especie de L’ile Maurice parasite de ailes de Libellules et nouvelle localisations du sous-genre. Revue France Ent. (N.S). 6: 173-180.
  • Clastrier & Legrand. 1990.Forcipomyia (Pterobosca) incubans(Macfie) etF. (Trichohelea) macheten. sp. parasites de ailes de libellules en Guyane Francaise. Revue France Ent. (N.S). 12: 167-170.
  • Clastrier, D. Grand & J. Legrand. 1994. Observation exceptionnelles en France deForcipomyia (Pterobosca) paludis(Macfie), parasite des ailes de Libellules. Bull. Soc. Entomologique de France. 99: 127-130.
  • Koptur, S., Pena, J.E. and Grogan, W.L., 2013. The Biting Midge, Forcipomyia (microhelea) eriophora (Williston)(Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), an Ectoparasite Of Larval Phoebis sennae (Pieridae) in South Florida.The Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society,67(2), pp.128-130.
  • Kawahara, A.Y., Winkler, I.S. and Hsu, W.W., 2006. New host records of the ectoparasitic biting midge Forcipomyia (Trichohelea) pectinunguis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) on adult geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society,79(3), pp.297-300.
Blood-sucking Moth Parasites (2024)

FAQs

What are the side effects of vampire moth bite? ›

Human skin penetrated in this way may turn red and be sore for several hours leaving an itchy rash. Despite the bite being more severe than that of a mosquito, the moths do not pose a risk to humans.

What parasites infect moths? ›

Mites may be either Parasites or Predators. As a parasite, mites use the host caterpillar or moth as a source of food in the form of hemolymph or "blood." They are usually seen as small fluid-filled "balloons," and there may be just one or a few on the dorsal or ventral surfaces of adult moths.

Are vampire moths in the US? ›

They can usually be spotted in Southern Europe, Eastern African, and the Sub-Himalayan regions of South Asia. There is one species of Calyptra in North America, but it's not known as a blood-feeder. At first glance you'll think that the moth doesn't look very foreboding.

Can moth infestation make you sick? ›

Generally, no. Moths are not dangerous in your home. Most moths that fly into houses are either Clothes and Carpet Moths, common millers, or Pantry Moths. None of these types of moths are toxic, have stingers, or can cause harm to people in general.

What does a moth bite look like? ›

Raised Bumps or Papules: Moth bites may manifest as small, raised bumps or papules on the skin. These can be similar in appearance to mosquito bites. Potential Rash: In some cases, especially if there are multiple bites in the same area, a rash may develop. The rash may consist of clusters of red, raised bumps.

How does a vampire bite heal? ›

In the realm of vampire fantasy, vampire blood has the ability to heal, so if a vampire were to bite someone and they did not want to kill them, they would bite their tongue to let a few drops into the wound, which would heal itself.

What is the ghost moth parasite? ›

Caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis; Tibetan: yartsa gunbo) parasitizes ground-dwelling ghost moth larvae (Thitarodes spp.) to produce a needle-like mushroom with its root encased in the exoskeleton of a dead caterpillar (Fig.

Can moth worms hurt you? ›

The experts say no. So, if you ingest them, don't panic.

Can moths infest humans? ›

Moths are mostly harmless, fluttering insects. Because a moth's mouth parts are so small, it is not physically possible for it to bite a human, with few exceptions, including the “vampire moth." The most that will happen is the moth will leave behind a little dust as it flies away.

What color is moth blood? ›

Answer and Explanation: Insect blood which is called 'hemolymph,' is generally clear and has no color at all. Sometimes it has a slightly yellowish or greenish color to it.

What is the new moth found in the US? ›

The atlas moth — considered one of the world's largest moths — was first reported to the state agency by a University of Washington professor last month. It was seen in Bellevue, a large suburb of Seattle. The moth was sent to the U.S. Agriculture Department, which identified it as an atlas moth.

What is a moth like bug that bites people? ›

Moths from the genus Calyptra, also known as vampire moths or fruit-piercing moths, are equipped with a feeding tube (proboscis) with tiny projections that can penetrate human skin.

Can I eat rice with moths in it? ›

If you're wondering whether ingesting a few eggs or other meal moth byproducts will make you sick, the answer is no. In fact, you've almost certainly eaten some without knowing it. So they aren't really a health hazard, but they're a waste hazard, because they will mess up perfectly good food.

Why do moths fly at you? ›

When they see another light, they confuse it for the moon and fly towards it. When they get close to the light, they become unable to navigate or even see anything, often causing them to fly around erratically. If you're also close to the light, they won't see you, and they might bump into you.

Can you smell a moth infestation? ›

Musty smell – If your wardrobe or drawers have a musty smell you might have moths.

What happens if a moth bites you? ›

To defend against predators, some species of moth have spiny hairs that can easily become lodged in your skin. This is usually quite harmless, but it can provoke a reaction of red patches of bumps that looks similar to hives. These bumps may burn and sting for several minutes.

Can a caterpillar bite make you sick? ›

Symptoms of exposure to caterpillar venom may include skin redness, itching, swelling, welts, and blisters. Headache and nausea may also occur. More severe allergic reactions that involve shortness of breath and/or difficulty swallowing can develop if you touch your eyes or mouth after touching a poisonous caterpillar.

What happens when a vampire bat bites you? ›

Even though bat bites don't hurt, vampire bats can spread a disease called rabies. This can hurt farmers' livestock, especially cattle herds. However, vampire bats can actually be quite tame, and even friendly to humans.

What are the effects of vampire venom? ›

The venom of vampires is injected with their bite. The substance is highly addictive . It creates a euphoric feeling, suppresses pain and increases natural regeneration. These effects help make victims of a vampire bite wanting for more.

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