Can moths bite???

sleepinabox · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 07:26 PM

Hi

My sister told me she had been bitten a few days ago by a moth. I was sceptical as I don't think moths can bite. She told me she felt the bite first - like a midge bite - on her foot and looked down to find a large pale coloured moth which she promptly picked up and put out of the window and then was unable to identify it in her insect book (possible large yellow underwing I suggested) . The bite gave her some trouble and she had to take anti-histamines - indeed when I saw it today she still has a hard red lump.
I still find this hard to beleive .... has anyone heard of this before?

Rose

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 07:33 PM

NO Physically impossible for a moth to bite

kshotton45 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 07:36 PM

The bite sounds like a Horsefly, but not the description. I was once bitten on the knee by a Horsefly, very painful.

Keith.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 16-06-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

NO Physically impossible for a moth to bite

Re-reading this post I should of stated within UK species. Some Calyptra species which are not found in the UK can pierce skin and are known as vimpire moths. Although they dont pose much of a threat to humans and it is only the males which do this.

DaveSlade · #5 (**permalink**) 18-06-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Re-reading this post I should of stated within UK species. Some Calyptra species which are not found in the UK can pierce skin and are known as vimpire moths. Although they dont pose much of a threat to humans and it is only the males which do this.

I believe that there are also some Pyralids in the tropics that feed on the fluids inside eye-balls. These are more of a problem for humans as they can transmit diseases, but I'm not aware of any records from Europe!

Dubya · #6 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 11:05 AM

I was out walking in a meadow yesterday and was definetly bitten or stung on my left hand by a dark coloured moth (or very moth-like insect) which was about 1/2 inch in length. The bite has swollen up and is very itchy and inflamed. It was not a fly.

Jim Ford · #7 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubya

I was out walking in a meadow yesterday and was definetly bitten or stung on my left hand by a dark coloured moth (or very moth-like insect) which was about 1/2 inch in length. The bite has swollen up and is very itchy and inflamed. It was not a fly.

Sounds just like a horsefly/cleg - I was bitten by several yesterday!

The only 'good' thing about horseflies is that when they bite you their mouthparts appear to lock into your skin, which means that they can't fly off quickly. You can then terminate them with extreme predudice!

Jim

Dubya · #8 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 02:23 PM

I have gone and looked at some photos of the cleg fly and it is very possible this is the culprit who savaged my hand. Albeit the critter that bit me was larger and darker in colour than any pictured, it was slow to try to escape and had its wings swept back flush against its body.

Gill Catton · #9 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubya

I have gone and looked at some photos of the cleg fly and it is very possible this is the culprit who savaged my hand. Albeit the critter that bit me was larger and darker in colour than any pictured, it was slow to try to escape and had its wings swept back flush against its body.

sounds about right to me, they can take quite a bashing sometimes before they leave!

sleepinabox · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 07:44 PM

Thanks Dogghound - that's exactly what I told her but she is insistent it was a moth (she's not stupid and knows her wildlife) and it was in the exact place on her foot that she was bitten ... strange.
Definitely NOT a horsefly as she knows what they are and has been bitten by one before.
Insistent it was a large pale moth .......

Paul mabbott · #11 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 08:01 PM

Agreed. Also strictly speaking, flies (like bugs) can't bite - they may have piercing mouthparts in contrast to beetles and other orders which have true jaws for real biting! I think but I know so little about Diptera ...

Dogghound · #12 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Agreed. Also strictly speaking, flies (like bugs) can't bite - they may have piercing mouthparts in contrast to beetles and other orders which have true jaws for real biting! I think but I know so little about Diptera ...

Of the diptera the horseflys such as Haematopota sp come closest as they have a blade like jaw, that cut into the skin, then fleshy pads mop up the blood, but not quite a true bite.

wildlifesnapper · #13 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 08:18 PM

Hi

how do the hairs on the Browntail moth affect people ( I've never met one

) could that feel like a midge bite? It is pale coloured and the hairs would cause irritation afterwards.

Just a thought.

neil

andy68 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 10:08 PM

A friend of mine was badly affected by a Yellowtail moth which got under his shirt whilst out trapping a few years ago. His entire torso came out in a very painful rash which required not only antihistamines but also antibiotics from the doctor. Both Yellowtail and Browntail moths are almost completely white, rather than 'pale' though.

Apart from these two species I can't think of any other way any adult moth can harm a human - unless you were to eat one of the poisonous ones!

Andy