The Real Life of Blood Suckers

Fictional vampires enjoy widespread popularity among readers from Twilight fans to history enthusiasts; yet when it comes to real vampires – blood suckers in particular – reality often takes on an unnerving cast; parasites, disease transmitters and sometimes downright creepy. Royal Ontario Museum’s new Blood Suckers exhibit offers insight into these creature that gorge themselves on human blood!

Hematophagous species include mosquitoes and fleas; leech- and tick-feeding worms; lampreys and vampire bats among them – and fish such as lampreys. Many of these animals harbor infectious bacteria and viruses such as bubonic plague, dengue fever, chikungunya virus infection, malaria transmission West Nile virus disease as well as tularemia virus disease.

These insects transmit disease from animal to human through bites that can often be painful for both parties and may lead to disease symptoms in both hosts. Mosquitoes in particular use bites with long proboscis that looks similar to a straw to inject saliva and draw blood out from skin for injection of parasites that causes Lyme disease, leaving behind an unpleasant stinging sensation while transmitting pathogens like Lyme disease bacterium.

Other blood-feeding organisms, like vampire bats and lamprey fish, use sharp teeth or jaws to puncture host flesh in order to extract blood for sustenance, potentially leaving behind wounds that allow bacteria and viruses to infiltrate human hosts and transfer. Other blood feeders such as fleas may lick skin or bite through clothing in order to gain access to juicy insides; leech species, however, can only be removed by sliding a fingernail under their anterior mouthpart but may leave behind an unpleasant taste and smell upon their host species’ host.

Leaches often evoke feelings of disgust and fear when seen clamped to your skin, yet these spineless bloodsuckers have made a surprising comeback as part of modern medicine. Leeches help doctors perform procedures such as reattaching severed fingers or treating life-threatening circulation disorders by sucking up any necessary blood.

Visitor can test their ability to recognize critters through larger-than-life models of their heads, feet, antennae, and legs. Listening to sounds of Northwoods mosquito swarm and playing a game to identify effective repellants can also help identify these pests. In addition, the exhibit will cover vampire history including Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula which may have inspired their myth. A mini movie theater and historical vampire hunting kit complete this experience, providing visitors with an experience where fact and fiction meet. The exhibition runs through March 22.