It is the first species of its genus to be observed feeding on the tears of a lizard . Madrid photographer Javier Aznar González de Rueda observed and photographed a thin anole (Anolis fuscoauratus ), a kind of small lizard, sleeping peacefully on a branch of a tree located in the Ecuadorian Amazon; but on his tear was a reddish cockroach that remained apparently immobile. The cockroach was ingesting the tears of the anole, which is known as lacriphagia and which, in general, is a behavior that is associated with moths or butterflies that carry out this action to supplement their diet with salts and other nutrients.
Now, a study has been published in which scientists reveal that cockroaches, quite abundant and common insects, have a much more enriched diet than previously believed. And they don't need a proboscis for it.
According to experts, this behavior, which has surprised scientists alike, could have a negative side effect for reptiles, since they could transfer viruses or bacteria to them while cockroaches feed on the tears of these creatures.
"Our work contributes new knowledge about the natural history of cockroaches," says the expert, from the Department of Biogeography and Global Change of the MNCN to the SINC agency.
Reference: Matthijs P. van den Burg & Javier Aznar González de Rueda. "Lachryphagy by cockroaches: reptile tears to increase reproductive output?" Neotropical Biodiversity
