#the males drink nectar and the females use blood to feed their babies

[fumblebeefae]

ik you're primarily a bee blog but do you have any fun facts about mosquitos? i hate them so much and your post about wasp haters got me thinking about it

Some of them are rainbow and have little leg warmers like: Sabethes cyaneus. They use their legs in one of the only examples of courtship display in mozzies.

[oldesotericencyclopediaofnothing]

Do Vampires Poop - Con’t

Lastly on our trip down blood sucking lane, let us look at the most well known, far reaching, and thoroughly hated of our little vampiric friends - the mosquito. 

Some mosquitoes have evolved into ectoparasites - they live off of another organism for sustenance and thusly cause said host some level of harm. Now, I know what you must be thinking. ALL mosquitoes are horrendous little parasites that deserve all the wrath round-up can throw at them. But, that’s where you’re wrong. Because only the female mosquitoes actually latch onto you and drink your precious life essence. 

You see, these feminine mosquitoes are, of course, able to ingest nutrients from blood, but they (along with their less...verocious male counterparts) also gain nutrients from plant nectar. They are not obligate hematophagists (I may have made that word up as well. And thus I am proud of myself). The one thing that lady mosquitoes get from their blood sucking is protein - a necessary component of egg production, and thus procreation. 

FUN FACT: Mosquitoes DO in fact, have preferences when it comes to blood. According to the all knowing Wiki page, they prefer Type O blood, heavy breathers (source?!), and pregnant women. Some scientists also believe there are other genetic markers that make people more delectable to these little creatures, and thus we inherit a swarm of mosquitoes from our forebears. Smashing!

The abdomen of a mosquito can hold up to 3 times its body weight in blood, and after it’s feast, now fueled with endless amounts of protein, will convert this blood into eggs. The eggs are housed in the exact same spot as the blood, so the eggs get that dark thirst started early, I suppose. 

The feeding method of the mosquito is well known to us all, having all felt that pinch when a lady mosquito sinks her proboscis into our epidermis. Ouch! The mosquito’s saliva is excreted, as with other vampiric creatures, and acts as an anticoagulant AND a wonderful transport for bloodborne pathogens. And itches like the devil, should the devil choose to be itchy. 

POOP TIME

The mosquito ingests both sugary nectars and blood. The sugary nectar is stored in the crop, just like our little leechy friends. The nectar is then released to help fuel the labor intensive process of blood digestion (the blood is stored in the stomach, the nectar in the crop, thus allowing the mosquito to never get too full of one and not have room for the other. Kind of like myself and my ability to eat 3 slices of pizza and STILL drink 6 beers. Evolution at work). 

For this illustration, I am going to pull a direct quote from the wiki page regarding mosquitoes, because the wording just tickled me beyond a fancy.

“-  like certain other insects that survive on dilute, purely liquid diets, notably many of the Hemiptera, many adult mosquitoes must excrete unwanted aqueous fractions even as they feed.”

I hate it when I must excrete unwanted aqueous fractions as I feed. Such an inconvenience. 

What that quote is saying is that mosquitoes, as with all the others, excrete liquid AS they feed. And this liquid, urine in layman's terms, has been processes so thoroughly by the body very little escapes the mosquito (in terms of nutrients). And, ladies and gentlemen and anyone anywhere above or in between, mosquitoes do, in fact, poop. The iron and other solids undigested are condensed into small pellets, which are released as necessary (to leave room for blood and babies). 

Mosquitoes poop, vampire bats poop, leeches poop. Everything that ingests excretes. The Conservation of Mass, right? The mass of a system must remain constant over time. But that’s not taking into consideration the finer points of quantum physics, special relativity, and a whole slew of other things I have absolutely no knowledge of. 

Are we done here? Absolutely not. The road hath just begun, and we are as curious as cats. But never fear, for our 9 lives have yet to be spent.

Cheers!

[seedkeeping]

Hi there! In my daily act of empathizing with pests, I learned a little about horseflies. Male horseflies have weak mouthparts, and rely on plant nectar and exudates for their nutrition. I guess they are vegan. Female horseflies have a similar diet, but must also feed on the protein-rich blood of large animals like sweaty farmers and other humans, horses, cows, etc. in order to produce eggs and have babies. I ate animal products today in an effort to feel stronger on the farm, so I relate. Here’s what Wikipedia says: “The mouthparts of females are formed into a stout stabbing organ with two pairs of sharp cutting blades, and a spongelike part used to lap up the blood that flows from the wound.” I used different tools for my lunch - I relied on a livestock farm with fences, a butcher with their cutting tools, a supermarket, all the vehicles and refrigeration and stoves, and then my mouthparts. Ok moving on - here’s a tip for killing a horsefly that is bothering you: hold your hand up above your head. The fly tends to go to the highest point and land. Watch it watch you, and when you see it lower its head to cut into you and drink - swat it then - it has stopped watching you. While I relate to the fly’s protein cravings, I realize I’m much more violent in my experiences both as predator and prey. By the way: This fly was not bothering me and I did not hurt it. #horsefly (this is a repost from last year, but photos from today)... https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx2dih-lRKd/?igshid=8la3hhsabwyw

[evolutionsvoid]

While I have talked a lot about how the term "dragon" is thrown around a lot and misused, the word "vampire" is another one that suffers such a fate. The "Dragon" label  is slapped onto any giant, dangerous creature, and the title of "vampire" is used whenever a species or entity feeds on blood. As you can clearly see, these requirements for such a title are very vague. So often they are slung around with reckless abandon, to the point where such names hardly mean anything. The moment some culture or group learns that a creature feeds on blood, they instantly start calling it a "vampire." For a natural historian, such as I, it is extremely confusing. You will go to some town and have people raving about "vampires," and you go to investigate only to find that it is a roost of small blood sucking bats. This is the other problem with calling everything a "vampire," as it instantly demonizes whatever species it is used on. These bats hardly drink enough blood to cause harm, yet people are ready to slaughter them just because they believe they are bloodthirsty beasts. Real vampires are real problems, as the human host is reduced to a feral state that makes them extremely aggressive. Vampire outbreaks can wipe out towns, which is why vampires are so despised and hunted. This level of threat and danger shouldn't be thrown around so sloppily. What if a band of knights come riding to a town under the belief that they are besieged by vampires, only to find out that the townsfolk have been panicking over large mosquitoes? It would be such a waste of time and resources, while real vampires are out infesting others! What I am trying to say is that we should watch our use of the term "vampire" so that innocent species aren't demonized and natural historians can keep things straight. The reason I bring this up in this entry is because the species I am writing about is often called a "vampire." This is obviously a false title. Yes, is does feed on blood, but it does eat other things! And yes, it is a little creepy looking, but that still does not mean it's a vampire! The species I am referring to is the Cukalid, a large species of flying insect. These creatures are quite hardy and well adapted to their environment, allowing them to live in a wide variety of habitats. They prefer temperate to tropical climates, and the only real thing they need is trees for roosting. Cukalids are a nocturnal species, going out to hunt around dusk and retreating to the cover of trees when the sun rises. Despite this lifestyle, they are not vulnerable to the sun. Its rays do not burn them like one would expect for a "vampire." Rather, night is when their prey is easier to target and ambush, while daylight makes their attempts rather obvious. Stalking prey during daylight hours would be difficult, as Cukalids grow to the size of an adult human and are red in color. Kind of hard for prey not to notice something like that. Though their limbs can allow walking and crawling, Cukalids prefer to travel by flight. Their large wings allow them to zip around rather quickly, or hover in place so that they may scope out an area. These wings are designed to be silent during flight, making it easier for them to sneak up on prey. To go with this lifestyle, Cukalids have specialized limbs. Their lowermost appendages have backward joints and dexterous hands that aid in perching and snaring small prey. Their middle appendages are fused and spiky, which they use for holding larvae and grooming. The upper limbs are much like our own arms, allowing them to grasp tools, prey and larvae. And if six limbs aren't enough, their proboscis is prehensile! So many options!

Now it should be obvious by the "vampire" moniker, but I do have to say that the diet of a Cukalid primarily consists of blood. Their tongue-like proboscis is covered in hundreds of tiny sharp hairs that pierce the skin and siphon bodily fluids. They are so small and sharp that prey often doesn't notice, only feeling an itching sensation as the Cukalid feeds. Often, Cukalid's target large sleeping animals that won't notice it feeding. Its silent flight and long tongue help it sneak up and drain blood without rousing the target. In some cases, the Cukalid may ambush and overpower smaller prey. Using its limbs, it pins the victim to the ground and drinks its fill. If large prey is in short supply or the Cukalid is feeling a bit peckish, they are known to nab small mammals and drink them dry as if they were a pouch of juice. What I think is rather interesting is the fact that Cukalids do eat other things besides blood. While such foods are a small portion of their diet, it shows that they do not rely solely on hematophagy. Using their long tongues, Cukalids have been seen drinking nectar from certain flowers, or draining juices from ripe fruits. Perhaps sugar is a needed nutrient for their diet, and they gain more by drinking such things. While Cukalids are large, bloodsucking insects, this is not what has made them so infamous. Rather, it is their reproductive cycle that makes people so fearful and disgusted of Cukalids.  After a female and a male Cukalid mate, the female begins the development of two to three eggs. While other insects may lay these eggs and leave, Cukalids will actually keep them safe in their armored abdomen, refusing to lay them until they are almost ready to hatch. When the time comes, the female will finally release the eggs and guard them until the larvae emerge. Two to three larvae will be born, and their mother will pick them up and carry them on her body. What comes next is rather interesting, as Cukalids are brood parasites. Rather then care for them on her own, the mother will seek out large, blood-filled prey to help her out. Once she spots a suitable target, she will strategically place one of the larvae on the host and keep watch. Once planted, the larvae will dig in their legs and reveal a long, forked tongue that is used to pierce the prey's skin. Sliding this branching tongue under the skin, the larvae will begin to slowly feed on blood and other fluids. Its legs help anchor itself to the host, while the strange tongue makes removal difficult and painful. When the larvae is safely secured, the mother will fly off to plant the other siblings. The young will remain on the host for days, gaining strength and energy from its victim's blood. Now one may wonder why the host just doesn't squash the little bugger, as it would seem like an easy solution. The reason this doesn't happen is because while the larvae steals blood, it is also injecting something else into the host. This strange fluid (maybe venom? A tranquilizer?) causes the victim to become oddly motherly to the attached larva. Like how a mother lovingly cares for her child, the host will begin to act much like that, seeing this parasite as their own offspring. Even when the host is male or another gender, their behavior will change so that they care for and protect the parasite. Over the next few days, the host will become infatuated with the larvae. Any attempts to harm the parasite or point out that it isn't a real child will cause the host to lash out angrily and violently. This behavior is even seen in species who do not care for their offspring or interact with them in any way. When someone is being fed on by Cukalid larvae, it is pretty much impossible to convince them it is a parasite and not some precious baby. After a while, the larvae will have gained enough nutrients to begin pupating. When the host falls asleep, the young will remove itself from their body and crawl off to a nice, dark, safe place. There it will cocoon itself and begin the process of becoming an adult. When the larvae leaves the host, the host will wake up with no recollection of the past few days. Their memories of their time under its influence will be blurry, and some may even write it off as a drunken stupor. While some may believe that female Cukalids are uncaring mothers, there have been reports of them being quite protective of their young. Even when the larvae are planted on a host, their mothers have been seen checking in from time to time. They spy on the victim from a distance, making sure everything is going well. In certain cases where hosts have been harassed or targeted by others of their kind, the mothers have tracked down the offending individuals and viciously attacked them. With that, some people have found that it is best to let hosts be and wait for the larvae to leave under its own power. As you can imagine, such a life cycle has made Cukalids a terrifying creature in the eyes of many. Tales of them swapping out babies and preying on sleeping victims are plentiful. To make things even worse is its appearance. The devilish red, the cruel tongue and that bizarre visible brain. To this day, no one is really sure why the Cukalid has such a large, obvious brain. Compared to other insects, the Cukalid boasts the largest brain to body weight ratio. Some believe such a large organ is what gives Cukalids such cunning and cleverness. Though I did not state it before, but Cukalids are rather smart little bugs. They can open doors and windows, sneak into locked areas and plan out attacks so that they maximize success and minimize failure. This also helps when planting their young, as they choose hosts that will provide proper safety and food for their larvae. Even with this, though, their brains seem too big. Other insects are good at planning and hunting, and yet they do not possess such large brains. Giant ants are quite smart and clever, but their brains are tiny compared to the Cukalids! Another theory is that the Cukalid's brain makes them immune to magic. This I don't know much about, as I am not educated in such a department. The other popular theory is that this organ grants the Cukalid psychic powers. This one I believe is based more on hysteria and paranoia, the belief that Cukalids are masters of mind control and hypnosis. Many believe that Cukalids use their powers to lure in victims for their thirsty brood, or place attackers in a trance so that they may escape harm with ease. Some even think Cukalids use their tongues to suck the intelligence and memories out of a victim's brain! Why a giant insect would want to steal thoughts is beyond me! It has gotten to a point where some humans believe that Cukalids are designed specifically to hunt and feed on them. Their larvae can give the appearance of a swaddled baby, and Cukalids often target humans due to their efficiency as hosts. To them, Cukalids are worthy of the title of "vampire." To me, I think it is all ridiculous. Yes, Cukalids feed on blood and a brood parasites, but it doesn't make them psychic blood beasts. This talk of mind control  and stuff is just silly, as there have not been any reports or findings of such abilities. I would know, as I spent a month researching them! I spent days on end watching them and compiling notes of their behavior, and nothing ever happened to me! They say they use their big eyes and brains to entrance prey, but I have made eye contact with several Cukalids and none of them ever hypnotized me! Well, not that I recall. Actually, now that I think of it, I wouldn't exactly be able to tell that sort of thing, would I? I don't exactly have a research partner to confirm or deny such a thing. Weird. I am probably just overthinking things, but that would explain why my notes of Cukalids are surprisingly thin and scattered. You know what, scratch what I just said. I need to go see a mind cleaner to make sure there isn't something stuck in my brain. Depending on what they find, I may have to write a new entry for this species. Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian

[seedkeeping]

Hi there! In my daily act of empathizing with pests, I learned a little about horseflies. Male horseflies have weak mouthparts, and rely on plant nectar and exudates for their nutrition. I guess they are vegan. Female horseflies have a similar diet, but must also feed on the protein-rich blood of large animals like sweaty farmers and other humans, horses, cows, etc. in order to produce eggs and have babies. I ate animal products today in an effort to feel stronger on the farm, so I relate. Here’s what Wikipedia says: “The mouthparts of females are formed into a stout stabbing organ with two pairs of sharp cutting blades, and a spongelike part used to lap up the blood that flows from the wound.” I used different tools for my lunch - I relied on a livestock farm with fences, a butcher with their cutting tools, a supermarket, all the vehicles and refrigeration and stoves, and then my mouthparts. Ok moving on - here’s a tip for killing a horsefly that is bothering you: hold your hand up above your head. The fly tends to go to the highest point and land. Watch it watch you, and when you see it lower its head to cut into you and drink - swat it then - it has stopped watching you. While I relate to the fly’s protein cravings, I realize I’m much more violent in my experiences both as predator and prey. By the way: This fly was not bothering me and I did not hurt it. #horsefly