These fascinating images provide a glimpse into the peculiar relationship between an orange bat fly and a flying mammal, where the former indulges in a bloodthirsty feast.
Contrary to popular belief, bats themselves are not the bloodsuckers in this scenario. Instead, the photographs showcase a bat fly, inflicting a painful encounter by feeding on the blood of its larger counterpart.
Captured by Professor Piotr Naskrecki from Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, the snapshots offer a remarkable insight into the world of bat flies, which spend their entire lives tightly clinging to nocturnal, flying mammals.
The photographs were taken within the confines of Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, providing a backdrop for scientists to study these remarkable creatures, which have undergone millions of years of evolution.
According to Jen Guyton, a Princeton student specializing in the study of flies, there are approximately 275 species of bat fly within the Nycteribiida family and 225 within the Sterblidae family.
Reflecting on her first encounter with a bat fly in 2013, Jen recalls the surprise she felt when an enormous orange creature darted between her fingers while she was delicately handling a long-fingered bat during a biodiversity survey.
The Nycteribiida family consists of wingless flies that rely on parasitic tendencies for their sustenance.
Jen further explains that while bat fly evolution remains relatively poorly understood, it is believed that these insects initially subsisted on bats’ sweat, dead skin cells, or even feces millions of years ago.
Over time, however, these resourceful flies evolved to feed on the more coveted sustenance of bat blood, typically clinging to the hair on the lower back of their bat hosts.
To ensure their survival, bat flies have developed hardened and flattened bodies that make it difficult for the hosts to groom them off. Moreover, the flies’ feet and legs possess hooks that enable them to firmly latch onto the bats’ fur.
While capturing face-hugging moments between bat flies and their hosts is a rare occurrence, Jen Guyton and Professor Piotr Naskrecki were fortunate enough to document such an event.
Jen emphasizes the vital role that parasites like bat flies play within ecosystems, asserting that they are an essential part of Gorongosa’s biodiversity, just as significant as the bats they rely on.
Intriguingly, the discovery of a 20-million-year-old bat fly fossil encased in ancient amber provided evidence of their longstanding parasitic relationship with bats. The fossil exhibited early adaptations such as comb-like feet designed for gripping bat fur, indicating that bats have endured the perils of bat fly parasitism for at least 20 million years.
These astonishing photographs shed light on the complex dynamics of nature, reminding us of the intricate interdependencies that exist within our world, even between the smallest and most inconspicuous of creatures.
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