Global InformationHemiceratoides hieroglyphica information
| Hemiceratoides hieroglyphica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Erebidae |
| Genus: | Hemiceratoides |
| Species: | H. hieroglyphica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hemiceratoides hieroglyphica (Saalmüller, 1891)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Hemiceratoides hieroglyphica is a moth from Madagascar. It was discovered in 2006 that it frequents sleeping birds at night, and drinks their tears, using a specialized, harpoon-like proboscis.[1] Tear-feeding moths outside of Madagascar (for example Mecistoptera griseifusa in the Hypeninae subfamily), are not directly related to this species, and have evolved dissimilar mechanisms for drinking from large animals like deer or crocodiles.
The adults have a wingspan of 52 mm.[2]
- ^ Hilgartner, R., M. Raoilison, W. Büttiker, D.C. Lees, and H.W. Krenn. 2007. Malagasy birds as hosts for eye-frequenting moths. Biology Letters 3: 117–120.
- ^ Saalmüller, Max, 1892, Lepideptoren von Madagaskar - Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, page 405; ref.724; fig.208