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.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. 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.Saalmüller, Max, 1892, Lepideptoren von Madagaskar - Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, page 405; ref.724; fig.208
Distribution This species is known from Nigeria, South Africa and Madagascar.afromoths.net
References
Malagasy birds as hosts for eye-frequenting moths. Biology Letters New Scientist: Moths drink the tears of sleeping birds (December 2006) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Malagasy birds as hosts for eye-frequenting moths Harris, Thomas. The Silence of the Lambs. New York: St. Martin's, 1988.
Notes