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HANS BANZIGER 



4. Ethology-ecology. Eulachryphagous species may suck as long as two hours 

 directly at the eyes. To stimulate lachrymation they twitch the proboscis 

 to the right and the left onto the eye bail. Their proboscis can advance 

 between the lids of closed eyes to obtain food. Non-eulachryphagous species 

 are unable to do this, show no particular proboscis movements, imbibe 

 also the lachrymal fluid running down the cheeks and feed for a few minutes 

 only. 



5. 11 new host species were found in addition to the 11 already known. They 

 are not spécifie to particular lachryphagous species, but big bovids, sambar 

 deer and éléphant are generally preferred to other hosts; man is visited only 

 occasionally. Illuminated places (and for certain species also stables) are 

 avoided by the moths. 



6. When L. griseifusa sucks at the human eye pain is felt mainly at the eye 

 bulb. But when sucking at closed eyes, very strong pains occur at the lids. 

 No wounds, haemorrhage or pathologie complications ensued although the 

 eyes were inflamed. 



7. Morphology. The proboscis of L. griseifusa is comparable to that of non- 

 piercing fruit-sucking moths: very flexible, with blunt and soft tip and 

 passively movable sensillae. The linking processi are sparsely distributed 

 and quite elongated. Over 30 000 minute spines probably keep the coils of 

 the proboscis when at rest. Thèse and the elongated sensillae appear to be 

 responsible for the pain caused by the moth on the lid. They may inflict upon 

 the conjunctiva microscopic incisions which could facihtate the action of 

 pathogens. 



8. In eulachryphagous Noctuids, the crop, having no storage function (see 11.), 

 is reduced. In other lachryphagous species it is a normal food storage organ. 



9. Physiology. In the mid-gut of 90% of eulachryphagous moths, leucocytes 

 and epithelial cells (imbibed with lachrymal fluid) were présent (in 60% in 

 great amounts). No erythrocytes nor pollen were found. 



10. In hemi- and ohgolachryphagous moths, leucocytes and epithelial cells were 

 found less frequently. In spécimens which fed upon blood, erythrocytes 

 were présent. In some species pollen was présent in small amounts. 



11. In eulachryphagous species the lachrymal sécrétion is rapidly filtered during 

 feeding; the cells and probably the proteins contained in the sécrétion are 

 concentrated in the mid-gut and the excess fluid with the sait expelled as 

 anal exudate (regularly 9 droplets/minute). During one hour nearly 1 cm^ 

 of sécrétion is imbibed. 



