Meet the bloodsuckers in Auckland Museum's latest exhibition! From spine-chilling stories to life-saving science, Bloodsuckers explores the biology of blood and the creatures that crave it. Including larger-than-life sculptures, interactives, games and more – come face to face with the fearsome creatures that have played friend – or foe – to mankind for millennia.

Highlights of the exhibtion

  • An expansive display of bloodsucking species, from taxidermy birds to mounted or fossilised insects
  • A recreation of a barber’s bloodletting station and interactive apothecary drawers telling the story of bloodletting in medicine
  • A mini-movie theatre starring legendary bloodthirsty creatures and characters from popular culture
  • An array of life-sized sculptures featuring legendary bloodsuckers from cultures across the world

For more information and to book tickets: www.aucklandmuseum.com/visit/exhibitions/bloodsuckers Tickets are on sale from 3 December.

Location: Auckland Museum, The Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland

Rights: Steve Kerr, CC BY 4.0. Image sourced from iNaturalistNZ.

Striped mosquito Aedes notoscriptus

This mosquito was introduced to Aotearoa in 1920s and is currently widespread in the North Island and down to Lyttleton in the South Island. The females like to feed via biting of both humans and animals, with their preferred feeding times evening and early morning.

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