Mosquitoes are perhaps the most well-known blood-feeding insects. Only female mosquitoes feed on blood, using it to nourish their eggs.
These tiny insects feed on the blood of humans and animals while they sleep. Bedbug bites can cause itchy welts.
Ticks are arachnids that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles. Some species of ticks can transmit diseases to their hosts.
Leeches are segmented worms that are often found in freshwater environments. Some leech species are bloodsuckers, attaching themselves to hosts to feed.
Found in the Americas, vampire bats feed on the blood of other animals, typically livestock. They make small incisions with their razor-sharp teeth and lap up the blood.
Fleas are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. They are known for their jumping abilities and can transmit diseases.
These large, biting flies feed on the blood of mammals, including humans. Their bites can be painful, and they are known vectors for certain diseases.
Lampreys are jawless fish that attach themselves to other fish using their suction cup-like mouths and feed on their blood and bodily fluids.