The Insect That Drinks Tears from Other Animals
They don’t want your blood. Just your tears.
When we think of insects that feed on animals, we usually imagine bloodsuckers — mosquitoes, ticks, fleas.
But there’s a group of insects that aren’t after your blood.
They’re after something more delicate… and a little more poetic:
Your tears.
Yes, some insects survive by drinking the tears of animals, including humans.
They land gently on eyes, sip the salty fluid, and fly away — leaving no trace but maybe a blink of confusion.
It sounds like something from a fantasy novel, but it’s 100% real science.
What Are Tear-Drinking Insects?
The scientific term for tear-feeding is lachryphagy — from the Latin lacrima, meaning "tear."
This behavior has been observed in:
- Certain butterflies
- Bees
- Moths
- And some flies, including fruit flies
These insects often feed on the tears of large animals like:
- Crocodiles
- Cows
- Deer
- Humans (especially when sleeping!)
- Even turtles basking on riverbanks
While butterflies are known for sipping nectar, some tropical species are also known to land on animals' eyes just to drink tears — not out of cruelty, but for survival.
Why Do They Drink Tears?
Tears are rich in:
- Sodium (salt)
- Proteins
- Enzymes
- And amino acids
Insects, especially those in tropical regions, sometimes live in mineral-poor environments.
Salt is hard to come by — and tears offer a reliable and natural source of electrolytes.
While nectar gives them energy, tears give them nutrients they can’t find in flowers.
Butterflies That Gently Feed on Turtles
One of the most famous observations of lachryphagy comes from the Amazon rainforest, where scientists have captured stunning photos of:
- Delicate butterflies perched on the heads of turtles
- Sipping slowly from their eyes
The turtles don’t seem to mind.
In fact, the behavior is so common that it’s considered a normal part of the ecosystem.
Some researchers believe this interaction may be mutualistic — the butterflies get salt, and the turtles get a kind of eye-cleaning treatment.
Nature is weird… and wonderful.
What About Humans?
Yes — some tear-drinking insects have been caught sipping tears from sleeping humans.
These encounters are more common in humid, tropical regions, like Southeast Asia and parts of South America.
People who sleep outdoors, or in open huts, have reported fluttering wings near their faces — only to realize that a butterfly or moth has landed gently on their eyes.
While it’s mostly harmless, it’s a bit creepy, right?
Fun fact: Some species of fruit flies will also target human tears to obtain protein for egg-laying.
They don’t bite — they just lap it up with sponge-like mouths.
How Do Scientists Study This?
Studying tear-drinking behavior is tricky, but researchers have managed to document it by:
- Observing wildlife in the Amazon and Southeast Asia
- Using motion-triggered cameras
- Tracking specific butterfly species like Heliconius and Godyris
- Studying salt needs in mineral-deficient insects
Some butterflies have even been caught preferentially choosing tears over puddles — showing how valuable tears are to them.
Is It Dangerous?
Generally, tear-drinking insects are not harmful.
They don’t sting or bite — and they don’t carry disease like mosquitoes.
However, there are rare reports of:
- Eye irritation
- Conjunctivitis (if bacteria is transferred)
- Mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
Still, the overall risk is extremely low, and in most cases, the insect is gone before you even notice.
Fun Facts
- Some moths in Africa drink tears from sleeping birds!
- Butterflies may choose specific animals for their tears, preferring certain salt concentrations.
- Scientists believe lachryphagy might date back millions of years.
- Not all insects are gentle — some use spines on their legs to pry open closed eyelids.
There's even one fly that prefers crocodile tears — literally.
Final Thought
The idea of an insect sipping tears might sound poetic — or creepy — but in nature, nothing is wasted.
Every drop of water, salt, and nutrient is precious.
And tear-drinking insects have evolved a strategy to survive in some of the harshest environments on Earth.
They don’t harm. They don’t scare.
They simply flutter down, drink, and disappear.
So the next time you cry — whether from sadness, laughter, or a strong wind — just know that somewhere, deep in the jungle, a butterfly might see your tears as liquid gold.
About the Creator
Honey, I Shrunk the Datacentres: Is Small the New Big?
When most people think of datacentres, they picture sprawling warehouses full of servers, humming fans, and mountains of cabling. These massive facilities power everything from Netflix streams to artificial intelligence, but they also consume enormous amounts of energy and space. Now, a new trend is emerging: micro-datacentres. Tiny, modular, and often portable, these “datacentre in a box” solutions are challenging the old assumption that bigger is always better. Could small really be the new big in the world of computing? What Are Micro-Datacentres? Micro-datacentres are compact computing hubs designed to perform the same essential functions as traditional datacentres but in a fraction of the space. Think of them as miniaturized cloud factories — smaller, energy-efficient, and often placed closer to the users they serve. Key characteristics include: Compact size: Often no larger than a shipping container or even a cabinet. Energy efficiency: Use less power by focusing on localized computing needs. Modularity: Can be scaled horizontally by adding more units rather than expanding a single huge facility. Edge computing readiness: Positioned closer to where data is generated, reducing latency for IoT devices, AI applications, and streaming services. In short, micro-datacentres take the power of traditional computing and shrink it to fit modern, flexible infrastructure demands. Why Companies Are Embracing Smaller Datacentres There are several reasons the tech world is warming up to smaller datacentres: Energy and Cost Savings – Traditional datacentres consume massive amounts of electricity, sometimes as much as a small town. Micro-datacentres use less power and generate less heat, reducing both energy bills and cooling costs. Local Speed and Low Latency – For applications like AI, gaming, and streaming, milliseconds matter. By placing computing resources closer to users, micro-datacentres reduce latency and improve performance. Flexibility and Rapid Deployment – Big datacentres take years to build. Micro-datacentres can be deployed in weeks, allowing companies to respond quickly to spikes in demand or to expand into new regions. Resilience and Redundancy – Smaller, distributed units reduce the risk of a single point of failure. If one micro-datacentre goes down, others can pick up the load. Sustainability Goals – With energy efficiency at their core, micro-datacentres are often paired with renewable energy, making them an attractive option for companies seeking greener operations. From Data Warehouses to Data Cabinets Historically, the datacentre arms race has been about size. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft built massive facilities housing hundreds of thousands of servers. These centers achieved economies of scale but came with high energy use, long construction timelines, and heavy regulatory scrutiny. Micro-datacentres, on the other hand, flip the script: instead of one mega-facility, you deploy many smaller units closer to users. This is sometimes called edge computing, and it’s particularly useful for AI applications, smart cities, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Imagine self-driving cars, smart traffic lights, or factory robots. These devices generate enormous amounts of data that can’t be efficiently sent to a distant datacentre for processing. A nearby micro-datacentre solves the problem in real-time, enabling faster decisions and smoother operations. Real-World Examples Several companies are already experimenting with smaller datacentres: Google’s Edge Nodes: Google has deployed compact datacentres in regional locations to speed up cloud services. Microsoft Azure Stack Edge: A modular datacentre solution that brings cloud computing capabilities closer to businesses. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Snowcone: A portable computing and storage unit that can operate in remote or temporary locations. Even municipalities and hospitals are exploring micro-datacentres for localized applications like traffic management, healthcare data storage, and emergency services. Challenges of Going Small While micro-datacentres have many advantages, they’re not without challenges: Limited capacity: They can’t match the raw scale of traditional datacentres, so some large-scale AI training tasks still require mega-facilities. Security concerns: Smaller units distributed across many locations require robust cybersecurity protocols. Maintenance and monitoring: Managing multiple small units can be more complex than running a centralized datacentre. Energy trade-offs: If not designed efficiently, multiple micro-datacentres can sometimes use more energy than a single optimized large facility. Despite these challenges, many experts argue that the benefits — speed, flexibility, and reduced environmental impact — outweigh the downsides for many applications. Why “Small” Could Be the Future The rise of micro-datacentres signals a broader shift in how we think about computing infrastructure. Instead of centralized, monolithic powerhouses, the future may look like a network of small, smart, and sustainable units. This trend aligns with several larger tech movements: Edge computing – Computing closer to the user or device. Green technology – Reducing energy consumption and carbon footprints. AI proliferation – Handling massive data loads locally to enable faster processing. For companies, governments, and communities, the message is clear: smaller doesn’t mean weaker — it can mean smarter, faster, and more adaptable. Conclusion: Small but Mighty Micro-datacentres may not replace all mega-facilities, but they are carving out an essential niche in the computing ecosystem. They offer speed, flexibility, and sustainability that large datacentres can’t always provide, particularly for localized applications and edge computing. As technology evolves and energy concerns intensify, these “datacentres in a box” could become a core component of how we process, store, and access data in the 21st century. So the next time someone asks if small is the new big, the answer might just be yes — at least when it comes to datacentres.
By Muhammad Hassanabout 11 hours ago in Earth
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