December 21, 2006: Moth drinks tears

Undertoad · 12-21-2006, 06:33 AM

New Scientist via Mental Floss via Neatorama is the tracking for this very strange and frightening item.

Quote:

The Madagascan moths were observed on the necks of sleeping magpie robins and Newtonia birds, with the tip of their proboscises inserted under the bird's eyelid, drinking avidly. This was during the wet season, so the scientists think the insects wanted salt, as the local soils are low in sodium.

But sleeping birds have two eyelids, both closed. So instead of the soft, straw-like mouthparts found on tear-drinking moths elsewhere, the Madagascan moth has a proboscis with hooks and barbs "shaped like an ancient harpoon", Hilgartner says.

This can be inserted under the bird's eyelids, where the barbs anchor it, apparently without disturbing the bird. The team does not yet know whether the insect spits out an anaesthetic to dull the irritation.

Here's the proboscis in question. It's coming for you as you sleep:

footfootfoot · 12-21-2006, 06:36 AM

too many moths to feed...

Sheldonrs · 12-21-2006, 07:33 AM

Does Visine get the moth out?

glatt · 12-21-2006, 08:27 AM

I accept evolution as the most likely explanation for how we all are what we are, but DAMN. That's just amazing. You gotta wonder what steps were taken over the eons for the moths to form a nasty barbed proboscis like this.

I mean, the moths had to be smart enough in the first place to sneak up on sleeping animals and suck their tears, which I suppose isn't such a leap. We've all seen flies buzzing around the eyes of cattle or starving Ethiopian kids. These moths just do it at night. But then they had to evolve barbs at some time. Amazing. Just amazing.

ajaccio · 12-21-2006, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

...I mean, the moths had to be smart enough in the first place to sneak up on sleeping animals and suck their tears, which I suppose isn't such a leap. We've all seen flies buzzing around the eyes of cattle or starving Ethiopian kids. These moths just do it at night. But then they had to evolve barbs at some time. Amazing. Just amazing.

Agreed. But before they even got smart enough to sneak up, they had to somehow know that the tears were even there to be gotten.

How did they know? Smell?

I also wonder how this is for the birds. A good thing? Does it benefit them somehow? Or does it depelete them of needed tears that keep their eyes moistenened?

Elspode · 12-21-2006, 09:08 AM

Several thoughts:

1) I'll never complain about eye boogers again.

2) Somebody missed out on a chance to have made Mothra a lot more interesting when he battled Godzilla.

3) Literary: "He was drawn to her willowy beauty, as a moth with a barbed proboscis is drawn to the eye of a teary magpie robin at rest."

Griff · 12-21-2006, 09:24 AM

Thank you for the sig.

Undertoad · 12-21-2006, 10:11 AM

Glatt, I'm such a layman on this stuff. But thinking about it, I wonder if insects are specialists because their lifespan is so short that they evolve "quickly". Instead of getting more complicated to be able to adapt to changing conditions, they're genetically simple and just wind up evolving to consume whatever is available.

glatt · 12-21-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

I wonder if insects are specialists because their lifespan is so short that they evolve "quickly".

Excellent point. I'm just a layman as well, but that makes a lot of sense to me.

wolf · 12-21-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Here's the proboscis in question. It's coming for you as you sleep:

You. Really. Suck.

Trilby · 12-21-2006, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Thank you for the sig.

Damn YOU! That's a great sig!

(els is especially talented, no?)

Griff · 12-21-2006, 11:38 AM

seriously well wired for words

Elspode · 12-21-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Thank you for the sig.

You're welcome. I was pretty proud of that, my intended replacement for "like a moth to a flame".

milkfish · 12-21-2006, 12:21 PM

Did someone switch the Earth with an bizarre alien planet when we weren't looking?

bbro · 12-21-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

You. Really. Suck.

My thoughts exactly

12-21-2006, 06:36 AM	#2
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	too many moths to feed... __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-21-2006, 07:33 AM	#3
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	Does Visine get the moth out? __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

12-21-2006, 09:08 AM	#6
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Several thoughts: 1) I'll never complain about eye boogers again. 2) Somebody missed out on a chance to have made Mothra a lot more interesting when he battled Godzilla. 3) Literary: "He was drawn to her willowy beauty, as a moth with a barbed proboscis is drawn to the eye of a teary magpie robin at rest." __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

12-21-2006, 09:24 AM	#7
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Thank you for the sig. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-21-2006, 11:38 AM	#12
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	seriously well wired for words __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-21-2006, 08:27 AM	#4
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I accept evolution as the most likely explanation for how we all are what we are, but DAMN. That's just amazing. You gotta wonder what steps were taken over the eons for the moths to form a nasty barbed proboscis like this. I mean, the moths had to be smart enough in the first place to sneak up on sleeping animals and suck their tears, which I suppose isn't such a leap. We've all seen flies buzzing around the eyes of cattle or starving Ethiopian kids. These moths just do it at night. But then they had to evolve barbs at some time. Amazing. Just amazing.

12-21-2006, 10:11 AM	#8
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Glatt, I'm such a layman on this stuff. But thinking about it, I wonder if insects are specialists because their lifespan is so short that they evolve "quickly". Instead of getting more complicated to be able to adapt to changing conditions, they're genetically simple and just wind up evolving to consume whatever is available.

12-21-2006, 12:21 PM	#14
milkfish A serene breakdown Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern NJ, USA Posts: 266	Did someone switch the Earth with an bizarre alien planet when we weren't looking? __________________ A genius is one who can do anything except make a living. - Joey Lauren Adams

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