Research Collection Journal Article Records of Eye-Frequenting Lepidoptera from Man Author(s): Bänzigerl, H.; Büttiker, W. Publication Date: 1969 Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000422836 Originally published in: Journal of medical entomology 6(1), http://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/6.1.53 Rights / License: In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use. ETH Library J. Med. Ent. Vol. 6. no. I: 53-58 30 January 1969 RECORDS OF EYE-FREQUENTING LEPIDOPTERA FROM MAN By H. Banzigerl and W. Biittiker2 Abstract: Eye-frequenting noctuids have been known from More recently, certain pyralids and geometrids Africa since 1915 and from Southeast Asia since 1958. Their have also been found to make nocturnal visits to hosts arc wild and domesticated members of the mammalian ord{'rs Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla and Proboscidea and in- the eyes of a fairly wide range of mammals of the clude catde, water buffalo, sheep, sambar, antelope, pigs, orders of Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla and Probos- horses, mult,s, and elephants. cidea (Buttiker 1964a, 1965, 1967a, b). In the Previous work in northern Thailand has shown that the Noctuidae, Pyralidae and Geometridae include species that meantime more observations have been made by quite rl'gularly feed on lachrymal secretions, pus and blood of the authors in regard to mammalian hosts, and the some of the above-mentioned mammals. results are now being prepared for publication. R{'cent observations made in Thailand have revealed that Following the publication of preliminary data they also frequent the eyes of human beings where they often feed on lachrymal secretions, other ocular discharges and pos- on the eye-frequenting behavior of a number of sibly blood. Lepidoptera on man in Southeast Asia (Buttiker The findings recorded in this paper are based on observations 1964b, Banziger 1966), a special study regarding made in northern Thailand under outdoor and indoor experi- mental conditions. Of the 20 known species of eye-frequenting the detrimental influence of these moths was made moths which regularly trouble mammals in Thailand, 6 were during field work3 conducted by the authors from recorclt'd on human beings. The photographs are the first 1965 to 1967 in Thailand and Malaya, and 1966 takt'n which show these moths on man. In addition, records in Ceylon and southern India. from Ceylon, southern India and Burma are included, together with some of the more striking cases observed of eye-frequenting The inflammatory reaction, called Ophthalmia moths troubling human beings. nodosa, caused in the eyes of humans by the hairs The Lepidoptera concerned have long been suspected of of certain insects has been described by Watson being the vectors of bovine diseases; in view of these new find- ings it is evident that these moths will have to be considered as & Sevel (1965). potl'ntial vectors of the trachoma virus and of other causal This paper records the observations made of agt'nts of eye diseases, for example keratoconjunctivitis, oph- noctuids, pyralids and geometrids attacking human thalmia, "pink-eye," in human beings. beings, these being the first confirmed observations of their kind. Eye-frequenting noctuids have been recorded so far from a number of mammals in Mrica and RESULTS Southeast Asia. The first observations were made During nocturnal field studies of the biology, simultaneously by Marshall et al. (1915) in Nyas- behavior, etc., of eye-frequenting Lepidoptera in- saland and South Mrica, and by Poulton (1915 festing mammals, it often happens that such moths in Reid 1954) in Tanganyika. fly about near the face of the human observer and Further records were summarized by Reid (1954) try to alight at his eyes. for Africa and by Buttiker for Cambodia (1959a, The following instances of Lepidoptera frequent- 1962a, 1962b), Thailand (1964a, 1965), India ing human eyes comprise only a few of the more (1967); and for Rhodesia by Btittiker & Whellan noteworthy ones recorded in Thailand, Burma, (1966). On the basis of the available data it is Ceylon and southern India. evident that noctuids belonging to the Wester- 1. Outdoor observations manniinae exhibit a very strong preference for Case l. Muag Lek (central Thailand), 16 lachrymal secretions of a number of bovine species August 1965 at 23 :00, coil. H. B. While I was and Ccrvidae. In a few cases blood was detected collecting specimens of 3 different eye-frequenting in the stomach of Hpsn. and Lobocraspis griseifusa species (Lobocraspis griseifusa Hpsn., Filodes fulvidor- Butt. (Buttiker 1959b, 1962b); Arcyophora sylvatica salis Hbn., Pionea aureolalis Wlk.) in a herd of cattle, however, the details of this peculiar blood-feeding the latter pyralid made continuous attempts for habit have so far remained unknown and no several minutes to alight on my face. Finally it information on the mode of uptake has been alighted on my left cheek near the nose and started published. 31nvestigations sponsored by the Royal Thai Government --'~7oEntomological Institute, Federal Institute of Technology, as part of a UNESCO program, and the Swiss National Fund Zi.irich, SwitzeJ-land. for the Advancement of Science Grants 2669 and 3707, res- 'c/o CIBA Ltd., Basle, Switzerland. pectively. 54 J. Med. En!. \'01. 6, no. 1 immediately to climb to the lower eyelid where it vernment Cattle Farm, colI. W. B. Several visits imbibed the lachrymal secretion for about 15 sec. to the farm were paid at night when we witnessed The proboscis of the moth could be felt probing regularly Pionea damastesalis as an abundant eye- over the eye surface. The eye produced a consi- frequenter on cattle. Up to 8 specimens were derable flow of lachrymation, and the irritation noted on a single eye. One of the herdsmen assist- caused by the moth was uncomfortable, although ing in collecting the moths was molested by 2 speci- not at all painful. mens of P. damastesalis on 26 March 1966 between The moth remained feeding for 15 sec. after 20 :20 and 22: 15. These 2 specimens were allowed which it was collected for identification and fixa- to settle for a few seconds on the eyelid where they tion prior to dissection. immediately started to extend their proboscides, Case 2. Chiengmai Zoological Gardens (north- palpate the eye surface, and take up some lachryma- ern Thailand), 12 October 1965 at 23:00, coIl. H. B. tion. The irritation caused him to disturb the moths I was collecting eye-frequenting moths within the which then flew off and settled on the eyes of the cage of a sambar (Cervus unicolor) when a speci- cattle nearby. men of Filodes fulvidorsalis settled on my lips and 2. Observations made on moths indoors started to insert its proboscis into my nose. After Case 5. Chiengmai (northern Thailand), 30 a few seconds it climbed to my left eye and started May 1966 at 11:00, colI. H. B. I kept in my room to imbibe the lachrymation. The action of the of the bungalow an insect cage containing 5 spe- moth's proboscis caused a considerably increased cimens of L. griseifusa, P. damastesalis and H. flavi- flow of tears. The attack brought about appreciable fusata. When the cage was opened 1 of the speci- intermittent pain at the eyelid, at intervals of 1 to mens of L. griseifusa escaped and flew without hesita- 2 sec. The painful effects could be described as tion directly to my right eyebrow. I immediately resembling the pricks of minute pins on the surface felt the oscillating movements of the proboscis. of the eye (not the lid), although the proboscis was This irritation was such that I had to close the eye felt on the eyelids too. from time to time. However, the insect was not After having sucked lachrymal fluid for approxi- disturbed at all, and for at least 5 min. continued mately 3 min., the moth suddenly flew off and disap- to imbibe the lachrymal secretion, which was unu- peared. Slight pains were felt at the lower eyelid sually profuse. The feeding of the moth caused a on the following morning but the irritation disap- continuous irritation which could be described as peared in the course of that same day. a stinging pain like that produced by very fine Case 3. Baan Maag near Saraburi (central pins accompanied by characteristic intermittent Thailand), 3 March 1966 at midnight, coIl. H. B. burning. The latter irritation was, however, al- During my stay of 2 months near Saraburi, I had ways too short lived for a clear distinction between the assistance of 3 young Thai boys in collecting the stinging and the burning pains. eye-frequenting Lepidoptera. During that period Case 6. Maejo near Chiengmai (northern Thai- we were molested quite regularly by Filodes fulvi- land), 3 October 1966 about 06:00, colI. H. B. In dorsalis, specimens of which attempted to settle on this experiment in my bungalow I kept 1 specimen the face of each of us. Single specimens tried of L. griseifusa and 2 of A. sylvatica in my mosquito sometimes for as long as 5 min. to feed at a suitable net for about 50 hr without offering them any food. vantage point. However, these moths never re- After having slept the entire night undisturbed by mained at the eyes for appreciable periods. They the moths, I was attacked in the early morning by flew off after a few seconds to seek another host. L. griseifusa. I suddenly tried to drive the moth The second and more scarce species present in that away, but it returned instantly and endeavored area, Hypochrosis pyrrhularia Guen., a geometrid, was to attach itself near my nose, lips or ears.