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PHOTOS: Strange moths pierce eyelids and drink tears of sleeping birds

newscientist.com — A species of moth drinks tears from the eyes of sleeping birds using a fearsome proboscis shaped like a harpoon, scientists have revealed. The new discovery – spied in Madagascar – is the first time moths have been seen feeding on the tears of birds.

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  • FacesMan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15Damn, that makes me cringe.
    • SilleeString, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The closeup of the probe is what did it for me...jeez...
    • nixonrichard, on 10/12/2007, -2/+29Mm, your tears are so yummy and sweet!
      Oh, the tears of unfathomable sadness! My-yummy!
      Mm-yummy, you guys!
    • the_d, on 10/12/2007, -1/+47A moth that drinks the tears from sleeping birds.



      This is going to fuel emo kids' poems for a long time.
    • akzidenzgrotesk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i think im going to have nightmares about that thing. *shudder*

      it is pretty cool though.
    • benitojuarez, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I seen these moths back in 1986 in ranger rick magazine. They arent new at all.
    • Warblade, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@NixonRichard

      Thank you. I'm glad I wasn't the first one to think of that episode.
  • ArchieAndrews, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Not quite accurate. They don't pierce the eyelids, the probe is inserted under the eyelids.
    • whespe, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4"with the tip of their proboscises inserted under the bird’s eyelid, drinking avidly "

      dumbass title made me read the article to realize its nothing special...
    • Cornloaf, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3And the caption under the picture says :

      The moth uses its barbed proboscis (close-up below) to penetrate the eyelid of sleeping birds and drink tears
    • isage, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Title is accurate since pierce is a synonym of penetrate. Check the dictionary.
    • ArchieAndrews, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Please link me a definition of pierce that doesn't involve "making a new hole". I can't find one.
    • benitojuarez, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12i used my penis to pierce your sisters vagina....does that work?
    • dpcamp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I believe mother or aunt would also be acceptable.
    • isage, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Main Entry: pierce
      transitive verb
      1 a : to run into or through as a pointed weapon does : STAB b : to enter or thrust into sharply or painfully
      2 : to make a hole through : PERFORATE
      3 : to force or make a way into or through

      I believe 1a and 3 above make "pierce" acceptable. A word can have many interpretations, but you cannot exclude it simply because one meaning may disagree with another :)

      @benitojuarez
      Your sentence makes no sense since, your penis isn't big enough to penetrate or pierce a bird, let alone a human ;)
    • benitojuarez, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1@isage

      You're just angry that the captain of the football team wouldnt make out with you in the locker room. Don't use me as a soundboard for your self recriminations.
    • isage, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Yes, I'm so jealous that he made out with you instead ;)
  • ttiwguitar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+33Gypsy! Give me your tears! If you will not give them to me, I will take them from you!
  • DeathJux, on 10/12/2007, -1/+45http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/IconsDeBoheme/drinkinurtearz.jpg
  • PrincessZelda, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Eric Cartman unavailable for comment.
  • liah, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It almost sounds like a bad heavy metal song title/lyric-- "Moths drink tears from the eyes of sleeping birds".
    • kingfoot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5or an interpretive dance.
    • Tycho7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I was thinking more along the lines of a Panic! at the Disco song title.
  • kosmoX, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3It stands no chance against that blender.
  • ShuttleDisaster, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2Give me your tears, gypsy!
    • mediaphile, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5you were beat by about 14 minutes. helps to read the thread before you post.
  • wozley, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Probably one of the most creepy things ever. If I were a bird, I would not sleep.
  • Blakechi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Apparently they don't feast on tears from doves (Think Prince & The Revolution)

    Ha! Sometimes I just plain amuse myself....
    • armbar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Remove "plain" from that last sentence, and you've got it right.
  • Krispy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Madagascar For Tearless Birds is currently accepting worldwide donations of Visine: Tears.
  • mediaphile, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19Dear Madagascan Moths,

    Please stay the ***** away from my eyes.

    Thank you in advance,
    Mediaphile
    • Endeavour3d, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You could just wear sunglasses...
  • monkeyvoodoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"[...]is the first time moths have been seen feeding on the tears of birds."

    You don't say.
  • MemoryDump, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2slow news day eh? (and I guess I'm bored at work)
    I can't believe I just read that article.
  • graphmac1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wierd!!
  • crypto55, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Just another one of Chuck Norris' experiments run amok...
  • Zomar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Imagine waking up to that...

    on second thought... I'd rather not.
  • dielawn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5dugg for being the species that will take over the planet in 5000 years
  • asauterChicago, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5"A species of moth drinks tears from the eyes of sleeping birds" and strangely, sleeping emo kids.
  • Fearnight, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Birds can cry?
  • artgon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1That's nothing compared to what Chuck Norris would do...
  • whisperedlie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3those moths are assholes.
  • Killerah, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That's hardcore! Anything that feeds on tears is freakin sweet, and that harpoon just adds to the effect.
  • Junkyarddawg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yet another reason not to sleep on the beach when backpacking in Madagascar.
  • ajslugger83, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I thought bed bugs were bad, at least you can have some fun and squish them these things can just fly away.
  • keuse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0 sleeping birds using a fearsome proboscis shaped like a harpoon, scientists have revealed.

    I laughed at this, I think using the word "Fearsome" in this sentance is a sign of a writer trying desperatly to attract attention.
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