In the USA, cameras captured a rare phenomenon: butterflies drinking tears from a moose.

According to ТСН: In the Green Mountain National Forest in the USA, surveillance cameras captured a unique phenomenon: butterflies tasting the tears of a wild moose. This is only the second documented case of such a phenomenon in northern latitudes.

Previously, scientists have observed butterflies and moths drinking the tears of turtles or crocodiles in tropical regions. However, in the Green Mountain National Forest, butterflies were first documented drinking the tears of a moose, marking the second known instance of this behavior in the north.

Research on Insect Behavior

Typically, most butterflies and moths obtain nutrients from nectar, but some expand their diet to acquire minerals from soil, the remains of dead animals, or even human sweat — a phenomenon known as puddling.

However, drinking tears or eye secretions from animals is an even rarer phenomenon. In science, it is called lachryphagy. Previously, outside of tropical regions, only once was a moth observed drinking eye secretions from a horse.

Documented Footage

A camera trap captured 80 images of a male moose (Alces americanus americanus), on whose muzzle butterflies sat, consuming its tears. These photos were taken on the night of June 19, between 1:44 and 1:48. It is worth noting that these 80 frames are the only ones documenting lachryphagy out of over 247,000 images of moose behavior collected from nearly 500 locations in the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Scientists note that both the moose and the butterflies are new species for which such interaction was previously unknown. Although it was not possible to determine the exact species of the insects, experts believe that, based on size and shape, they likely belong to the geometrid family (Geometridae).

Potential Risks

Researchers also point out potential risks: although such behavior is extremely rare, butterflies theoretically could carry diseases, including keratoconjunctivitis, which affects the eyes and can be dangerous for moose. However, cases of disease transmission through the drinking of tears in wild animals have not been recorded, so the likelihood of such a scenario is considered minimal.

Additionally, at a zoo in Vietnam, visitors witnessed an unusual situation: a domestic cat found itself in an enclosure with bears, but fortunately, there were no casualties. It turned out that the cat Mika regularly spends time with the bears, and they do not show aggression towards her.

Research on butterfly behavior and their complex interactions with the environment continues to unveil new chapters in the science of animals. Despite the wonder of this phenomenon, it's important to observe its impact on the ecosystem and the health of both species. This discovery enhances our understanding of natural connections in the wild.