Scratchy Andes

While at Wayqecha Biological Station on the Andes I photographed this Simulium (Psilopelmia) bicoloratum, also called “that damned sons of a b..ch”, sucking my own blood with permission.

It was my last day in Wayqecha Biolodge, let’s say my last minutes there and since 15 days I didn’t get any shot of my nemesis there. After so many unsolicited blood sample collecting, so many early morning scratching, I simply HAD to shoot at least some images of those damned vampires.

The funny thing is that my girlfriend saw this image and yelled “awww, that’s a Simuliidae! How cute!! Did you bring me some of their larvae?” (she’s a water quality specialist…). I deserve to stay with an abnormal woman…