Suck it up: 10 bloodsucking creatures found in the world

Vampire bats Native to the Americas, these bats feed on the blood of livestock and occasionally humans, causing local infections or transmitting diseases like rabies.

Mosquitoes The most common bloodsuckers, mosquitoes, feed on the blood of mammals, birds and sometimes reptiles, transmitting diseases like malaria, dengue and Zika.

Ticks Ticks latch onto their hosts and feed on blood, often spreading diseases such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis.

Fleas Fleas are parasitic insects that bite mammals, especially pets like dogs and cats, and can transmit diseases like the bubonic plague and typhus.

Bedbugs Bedbugs feed on human blood, often at night, causing itching and discomfort, though they do not transmit diseases.

Leeches Leeches are aquatic or terrestrial bloodsuckers that attach to animals and humans, feeding on blood while releasing anticoagulants to prevent clotting.

Lice Lice are small parasitic insects that infest humans and other animals, feeding on blood and causing itching and discomfort.

Chiggers (Harvest Mites) These tiny mites attach to the skin of mammals, including humans, feeding on skin cells and causing intense itching, though they don’t technically suck blood.

Sandflies Sandflies are small, blood-feeding insects found in tropical areas, often transmitting diseases like leishmaniasis.

9 loudest animals on Earth