Problems/Solutions with Blowflies in nests (Part 1)
In addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on
this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website:
Subj: giant Mosquito/blowflies/feeding frenzy
Date: 5/19/99 8:10:19 AM Central Daylight Time
From: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
Giant Mosquito: Look under Crane Fly to identify and yes as larva
in water they eat the larva of blood sucking mosquito's and other
water insects.
Blowflies: Hatch mentioned about the advantages to the Jewel Wasps,
which feed on blowfly pupa, by leaving old nests in boxes. It
is also recommended that you place all old nests that show signs of blowfly infestation
in buckets or barrels with the top sealed with 1/8" screen
(window screen) to allow the Jewel Wasps to escape but trap the
blowflies. Keep these sealed nests in an open carport or barn
so the Jewel Wasps can escape back to the wilds.
How many blowflies are there in the west? In Northeast Texas they
seldom ever appear in any bluebird nests but will be in nests
of the Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse hidden in their
damp fur and moss nesting material. For those new to the list
blowfly pupa look like brown rat droppings and will be found under
and in the old nest after the young have fledged. Take old nests
back home with you to break them apart and inspect them. They
are good additions to compost piles, gardens or simply thrown
behind the shrubbery.
...
Subj: Your nests needed for blowfly study
Date: 6/21/99 4:59:16 PM Central Daylight Time
From: whit"at"pobox.com (Whit Andrews)
All,
I write on behalf of a Terry Whitworth, an entomologist doing a blowfly study.
Terry writes:
"I still need nests. We have very few nest collections from the midwest, so I'm
very interested."
Terry also included a short letter about collecting and sending her nests. While
it is not mentioned, I presume what location the nest was taken from would be
relevant. I leave up to you any other information you might wish to include with
each nest.
I suggest that any further information you need could be gotten from Terry
directly at: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com and I include the letter Terry uses after my
signature. Perhaps some of the details of the study will be shared with us in
the long run.
Whit
Nebraska
5 fledged and moved on.
Collecting Bird Nests for Protocalliphora
Protocalliphora are calliphorids (blowflies) and like most other flies have an
egg, larva, pupae, and adult stage. Fly eggs are laid in nests or on nestlings
shortly after hatching. Larval development time varies depending on the species
of Protocalliphora, but takes 5 to 15 days, after which they pupate. Pupal
development takes about 7 to 10 days, after which adults emerge.
Protocalliphora can be very hard to identify to species and we prefer to have
both pupae and adults, if possible. The best way to do this is to collect the
nest shortly after the nestlings fledge. I like to use # 425 paper bags and put
each nest in a separate bag. Write on the bag, nest number, bird species, and
any other relevant data. You can also write only the nest number on the bag and
give me a separate sheet with other data. Small insects like mites will crawl
through paper bags so to stop this you can place them in a big garbage bag. Be
sure to roll the top of paper bags closed so the adult flies don't escape.
Many collectors use ziplocks and they work ok, as long as the nest isn't too
wet, since it can mold. Do not put the bag in the freezer, since this will kill
larvae and pupae. Keep bags you are saving to send in a cool, dry location, out
of the sun.
I am interested in any nests you find, even if nestlings have long since
fledged, because pupal cases will remain in infested nests and I can ID them.
Nests that failed early will not be parasitized so please don't send those.
Terry Whitworth, PhD
Entomologist
3707 96th Street East
Tacoma, WA 98446
Phone 253-531-7925
Subj: Blowfly study
Date: 7/15/99 11:33:22 AM Central Daylight Time
From: cbp6"at"cornell.edu (Tina Phillips)
Hello everyone,
Dr. Terry Whitworth has asked me to post a Message regarding research he is
conducting to identify blowfly species. If you are interested in
participating in such a study, it would involve sending him nests of any kind.
Be aware there are permit issues that must be addressed within each state in
order to do this. If you want to learn more, please contact Dr. Whitworth
directly at: wpctwbug"at"aol.com (replace "at" with symbol)
Tina B. Phillips
Cornell Nestbox Network...
Subj: BB Blowflies
Date: 7/15/99 11:50:49 AM Central Daylight Time
From: lviolett"at"earthlink.net Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif
Bruce, out here in Calif. we don't seem to have blowflies . . . I've never seen
them (Yorba Linda, Calif) . . . Dusty's never seen them (San Jose, Calif.) So
half a dozen reference books wouldn't provide Dusty with the information he
wanted . . . since he hasn't noticed ever seeing blowflies and I think Dusty
wanted to know if should be looking for them.
I've got several of the reference books you referred to in your post, including
Doren Scriven's excellent "Bluebird Trails" which tells all about blowflies and
how to control them. But most of the reference books are written for Eastern
Bluebirds east of the Rockies so us westerns always have to filter the
information with the preface "does this refer to Western Bluebirds on the West
Coast"? With blowflies, the answer seems to be "no." I think Doren Scriven's new
edition will include more information with a view to the west (I need to get a
copy).
In the meantime, maybe Fread Loane could get on his website search engines for a
geographical map of the bluebird blowfly habitation areas and report back to us.
Bruce Burdett wrote:
Dusty, and others,
Respectfully, and I hope tactfully, let me suggest once again, as others have done, that you go to one of the several excellent books which describe. with photos, what a blowfly is and looks like. Most of the fundamental questions asked on this Network are answered fully in one or more of these books. The one I have in my hand at this moment happens to be Dorene Scriven's BLUEBIRD
TRAILS, (which I gather is coming out in a new edition). And if Scriven isn't enough, try Zickefoose, Zeleny, Stokes, and, especially for the photography, ($$$) Toops. And there are other good ones that I don't have. In fact, Dusty, where I come from the blowfly is just about as ubiquitous as the doorknob, and if you're not careful and vigilant they can wipe out whole generations of Eastern Bluebirds. In brief, the larvae suck the nestlings' blood and either grossly debilitate them, or kill them. This summer I lost one clutch outright (dead, that is) and managed to save four others by prompt and timely action. I could have saved the one I lost if I'd been more meticulous (not so lazy).
Bruce Burdett, NH Bluebird Conspiracy, Sunapee NH
Subj: Re: replacing the nest
Date: 7/17/99 11:24:20 PM Central Daylight Time
From: jwick"at"mail.tds.net (Ann E S Wick)
Reply to: If I should by chance have to clean out this nest because of larvae from blowflies, how do I do it and what should I do it with? Am anticipating the worst, and hoping for the best! Pat in Currituck, NC
NEST REPLACEMENT
I have a large bluebird trail now so I sometimes collect and use abandoned, dry
bluebird nests to replace wet or blowfly inundated nests. When I began, however,
I only had a few houses, so I collected and kept dry grass clippings (longer
grass stalks work best), fine straw or even dry hay when I needed new nesting
material for replacement nests. I was afraid to replace those first couple of
nests just as you are, but with experience came confidence. You must remind
yourself that replacing the nest would be better than losing the nestlings!
To replace a bluebird nest: Take along a small, deep, plastic container, (I use
a plastic ice cream container), just large enough for the nest and nestlings to
fit into. (If you need to do this, it helps to have another person with you to
hold the container.) Carefully remove the nest and birds using the putty knife
beneath the nest and your free hand cupped over the top of the nest and
nestlings. Place the nest gently in the container and have the other person
place a light cloth over the container, or a free hand. (This will help to keep
the birds calm, although usually they just snuggle down together in the nest, as
you should do this with ONLY birds that are 12 days old or younger, due to the
danger of prematurely fledging the nestlings!) Stuff 3-4 inches of new DRY
nesting material into the house. Use your fingers to make a slight dip in the
nest toward the middle and back of the house. Carefully lift the nestlings one
at a time and place each gently back into the new nest. Close the door. The
birds' weight will compact the nest nicely, so by the next time you check the
house, you should have no problem opening the door to monitor the house.
OH.....BE SURE TO TAKE THE OLD NEST WITH YOU AND DISCARD IT A SUBSTANTIAL
DISTANCE FROM THE NESTBOX OR IT MAY ATTRACT PREDATORS TO THE NESTING
BOX....RACCOONS, SNAKES, ETC.
I hope this helps....I don't always explain things very well. It's so much
easier to demonstrate in person!!
Subj: Re Screen floors
Date: 7/21/99 11:40:45 AM Central Daylight Time
From: pinecrestfarm"at"earthlink.net (Donald Edwards)
I'm thinking of next year putting in 1/4" hardware screening for the floor,
covered with a removeable piece of masonite. When the nest is built and the
clutch safely on the way, remove the masonite from under the nest to leave the
screen floor. I would think that would deliver the blowfly larva directly onto
the ground. It might also have a second benefit of supplying some circulation of
air for help in cooling. I probably would not remove the masonite for the first
nesting for we are not bothered with the flies that early, and it might be too
much cooling for that first nesting. Any thoughts pro or con for this idea
before I revamp my boxes? All are NABS style.
Ruth Edwards, Westport, MA
Subj: search
engines/blowflies/screened bottoms
Date: 7/23/99 9:04:45 AM Central Daylight Time
From: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
...
Blowflies:It wouldn't be that hard to count out 10 Blowflies and place them in a
bluebird nest and see if they diminish the number. I doubt if they do eat them
in the nest. Bluebirds don't spend that much time in the nest only to stuff a
mouth and pickup a fecal sack and off they go. Blowflies attack from the nest
and feed on the young and the maggot looks similar to the nesting material! They
often don't even pick up all the grasshoppers that the young drop in the nest
while feeding. Bluebirds used to getting meal worms from a dish and then getting
a different colored worm in the same dish and eating that are not the same as
them searching for this in a nest. This would be a good experiment though!
A screened bottom: if you did this you would still need to place some sort of
container under the box that the blow flies couldn't climb back out of and count
to see how many and how old of larva went through the screen and "fell out" of
the box. If only mature larva fell out on their way to go pupate then you are
not saving the bluebirds from these blood feeders. In the south (we have very
few blow flies) these pupa would die a quick death to the ever present fire ant,
up north I don't know how many would die to ground based insect predators but
"experts" recommend throwing the nests "in the woods" to save the jewel wasps
(Parasite of blow flies) so I would assume the blow flies would also survive
being on the ground! I have tried to get someone "up North" with a blow fly
problem for 15 years to work on this theory. MANY complain about blow fly but NO
one will actually do the research (or write about it if they did)! I guess they
are waiting for someone to do it for them! If you attached a dark plastic
container directly to the box bottom then you would not have to use a piece
of masonite to "cover" the wire since the bottom would be dark and simply feel
rough to the bluebird! It is still not to late to build research boxes and move
infested nests into the test box! Lets see if members of this list are better
than "concerned NABS members" have been over the past 15 years! (I am a long
time NABS member so they know I am only poking fun at them!) KK
Subj: Goldberg.
Date: 7/23/99 12:56:03 PM Central Daylight Time
From: blueburd"at"srnet.com (Bruce Burdett)
To the Constituency,
Anyone remember Rube Goldberg, back in the '20s? (I do.) Picture a Bluebird
house, made of whatever wood you like best, with a floor made of hardware cloth,
either 1/2" or 1/4", whichever makes the most sense. The house might or might
not have the Masonite slide-in floor insert which someone has recommended on
this List. When an insert is not in place, the blowfly pupae, having made their
way to the floor of the house, underneath the nest, would promptly fall through
the screen and out of the house. They would fall, not on the ground, but into
some sort of tray which you have attached to the pole, well up from the ground,
but below the house. (They might also fall into a bag of some sort, which
someone has sugggested.) Once in the tray, they would then be scarfed up by the
sharp-eyed adult Bluebirds, who can apparently spot insects at great distances.
They could also be collected by the lady from Amherst MA, who would mix them in
with the mealworms in her feeder. All this assumes, of course, that Bluebirds do
eat blowflies (pupae or larvae.) Anecdotal evidence is beginning to suggest that
they do, if given the opportunity. Don't you think Goldberg would be envious of
this scheme if he were alive today?
One drawback is that these hapless pupae in the tray might attract other
insect-loving creatures, some of which you don't want in the neighborhood of
your Bluebird house. Then again, they might not. We've already been cautioned
many times on this List about placing birdseed on or near our nest-boxes.
One beneficial side-effect of such an arrangement might be to provide some
healthy ventilation on very hot days. If heated air still rises, as it did back
when I was in junior high General Science class, it would seem to me that we
have all the makings of a convection current. Think it over, and by all means
attack me if you are so inclined. I am not easily offended. If you think this
scheme is impractical, lame-brained, cockamamy (sp?), even idiotic, don't
hesitate to say so. My
Yankee skin is thick. On the other hand, don't reject it out-of- hand just
because I'm a Democrat.
Bruce Burdett, (D), New Hampshire
Subj: blowflies, shmoflies
Date: 7/23/99 5:25:05 PM Central Daylight Time
From: haleyapriest"at"hotmail.com Haleya Priest Amherst, MA
KK, Bruce, et al - I don't believe the bb think that blowflies are just
something similar to mealies. Reason is: I put the mealies in WITH the blowflies
in the feeder and the bbs ate the mealies first. But, once the mealies ran out,
they were munching on the blowflies like there was no tomorrow. About 30 gone in
no time.
The other day, I found a yummy slug and put it in their dish (thinking I'd
discovered a new slug control method for all of Oregon) and they wouldn't touch
it with a ten foot pole. I hope someone does run this experiment. KK has a
point - as I just found some leftover mealies in the fledged nest that weren't
eaten. However, why would blowflies bother to go to the bottom of the nest if
they weren't afraid of being munched on by someone/something??? As in what other
purpose would be served by going to the bottom of the nest??
But, no matter, blowflies ARE a problem and we can perhaps assume that not many
get eaten and even if they do, there can be scads left and MUST be removed pronto. Or else. H
Subj: more on blow flies
Date: 7/23/99 7:57:00 PM Central Daylight Time
From: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
The site with the blow flies which Dusty B. listed shows the flies which will
eat dead flesh. The blow flies which suck the blood of the nestlings are "Protocalliphora
sialia" or "Apaulina sialia" and in Larry Zeleny's book "The Bluebird, how You
Can Help It's Fight For Survival" he says that they have evolved to mainly feed
during the night since the maggots which feed during the day would be more
likely to be eaten by the adults. Connie Toops lists the same blow flies in her
book. Could someone check Doreen Scrivens book (I can't find mine) and post if
she has different species of flies?
One note on the flesh eating flies they are a carrier of botulism and if fed to
newly hatched baby ducks or chickens it is deadly to them and they will develop
"limber neck" where they can't hold their head up and ducks will drown and
chicks simply die. (don't feed honey to newborn human babies either!) Commercial
flocks receive inoculations and are fed "medicated feed" (antibiotics) for the
first week or so. I do not think the blow flies which feed on blood will carry
this disease any more than a mosquito will. Might be a good question to do a
search on or check with the college etomology department.
A Montana bluebirder (can't remember his name) swears that cutting the box
bottom corners off at a 45 degree angle helps rid his boxes of blow flies.
Looking at the bottom of his box he has slightly large corners cut off (about
3/4" equilateral triangle) but when you open the box and look down each corner
has a steep sided pit about 1&1/2" triangle leading to the 3/4" one. he said he
got the idea after watching ants fall into the sand pits made by the larva of
the Dobson flies called ant lions. He says that when the blow fly larva go to
the bottom of the box they hit a pit and tumble out of the box.
I really don't have a "fly" problem but since 1984 I have used his bottom idea
and it keeps the nest drier since more air circulates under the nest, I don't
have drain holes plugged by spiders or solitary wasps and the grass doesn't get
in the small corner holes and plug them. you might want to try a few of these
while making the next batch of boxes. Just crank the table saw to 45 degrees and
wack off all four corners for drainage. This might be a good test box for the
blow fly "pan" research also!KK
Subj: Attacking a weak link in Protocalliphora sialia and Apaulina sialia
Date: 7/24/99 1:06:43 AM Central Daylight Time
From: firefrost2"at"earthlink.net (Fread Loane)
There is an axiom which states: A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
As minds mull how to reduce infestation of Protocalliphora and Apaulina sialia,
it may be profitable to comprehend certain biological functions exhibited in
these creature's larval forms.
Behaviour can be described simply as responses to external stimuli. In this
scenario, we will investigate two specific responses: taxis and kinesis. For
this discussion, taxis is a response in movement which is determined entirely by
the direction of the stimuli.
I give you two examples:
#1. Positive taxial movement would be a creature moving towards the stimuli of
the smell of food.
#2. Negative taxial movement would be a creature moving away from a stimuli such
as heat.
Kinesis differs from taxis in that this behavioural pattern is exhibited when a
creature changes its rate of movement, either towards or away from, in direct
relation to the intensity of the stimulus.
An example of a prokinesis behavioural movement would be found when a creature
that was used to living in a humid environment, is placed in a non-humid
environment. That creature will exhibit prokinesietical movement and attempt to
move to a more humid environment.
Armed with this information, let us look again at Protocalliphora and Apaulina
sialia maggots. Simple observation reveals that these maggots demonstrate
negative phototaxis. They do this through elementary photosensitive organs
located on each side of the head. Observation reveals that they move their head
to the left and to the right. They do this to differentiate where the light
source is arriving from. Observation shows if the light source is coming from
the left, the creature moves to the right etc. If the light source is identical,
arriving equally left and right, the creature moves directly forward or directly
backwards. This is an innate evolutionary response to avoid lethal ultra violet
light and dessication from sunlight and wind. Performing this negative
phototaxis behavioural response, the maggot increases its chances for
survival....and possibly locates its prey....and possibly, just possibly,
reveals a devastating weak link which may be attacked. Think on these things.
Fread J. Loane
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Subj: blowflies after Fread's input
Date: 7/24/99 7:49:12 AM Central Daylight Time
From: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
Keith Kridler
I was afraid that to get the blowflies to go to the bottom of the box and fall
through the hardware cloth bottom it would have to be dark & that is why I
recommended attaching a dark plastic container to the bottom of the box. But you
might have the same results by using a very dark cheap plastic funnel on the
bottom of the box under the "cloth" & the maggots would already be tumbling down
before they saw the light. Aim this funnel at a shallow pan or bowl that will
keep meal worms in and it should also make a prison for blowflies. We have to
remember that blowflies also attack birds that nest in the open and if they all
crawled to the bottom of every nest they would soon become extinct preying on
say a blue jay or mockingbird.
Dick Walker is using opaque plastic for the bottoms of his nestboxes to reduce
house Sparrow competition and not the hardware cloth bottoms. he said he thought
about it but instead used the plastic instead. Sorry,the last I had talked with
him he was going to switch to 'cloth" bottoms. In '98 he fledged 500+ Eastern
Bluebirds from PVC boxes. I will try to figure out his records to see how many
sparrows he seems to have in his area. We need to get him on this list! KK
Subj: Blowflies -- "Food" for thought; use 3/8 inch hardware cloth only
Date: 7/25/99 4:02:10 PM Central Daylight Time
From: kingston"at"cstone.net (Ron Kingston)
Blowflies still seem to be hot news again.......
Ben Pinkowski's "A Comparative Study of the Behavioral and Breeding Ecology of
The EASTERN
BLUEBIRD (SIALIA SIALIS); Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy,
1974 states:
Ref: (p. 181), "The importance of the amount of nesting material appears related
to parasitism by the blowfly Apaulina and is discussed below (p. 393)."
Here I quote starting on p. 394 second paragraph ----
Extent of Parasitism -- "In the Stony Creek study nest contents were removed 1
to 3 days after fledging and blowfly larvae and pupae were counted for both
natural nests and nests in boxes (Table 54). The significantly lower figure (p
01, one-tailed Student's t-test) for the severity of parasitism in natural
nests was felt to result from the paucity of grasses added to nests in the
smaller natural sites
(see pp. 180-181), although feeding and habitat considerations may also be
involved (see below)."
He continues on bottom of pp 394 --
Significance of Parasitism
"At Stony Creek no mortality was ascribed to blowflies because it was felt that
in no instances did the flies directly cause the death of nestlings. Instead I
came to regard Apaulina as an indicator of the status of the various nests. A
large number of flies most typically meant other causative factors were impeding
the well-being of the nestlings. Nests doing poorly could correlate with greater
blowfly numbers if the weaker young were not as able to resist the parasites'
attempts to become attached."
He continues on describing nests with blowflies, then states on bottom of (page
396)
"The lower severity of parasitism in natural nests noted above may also be in
part attributable to the fact that natural sites were located in better feeding
habitat than were many nest boxes."
On Secondary Parasitism (pp 397) He states "A small chalcid wasp, Mormoniella
vitripennis ,
is known to be parasitic on Apaulina pupae and causes considerable mortality
before the adult flies emerge. Normally the adult wasps emerge 8 to 17 days
after the flies have pupated (pers. obs.),.
Mason (1944) and Johnson (1932) recommend leaving the nesting material in a box
for a time after the young birds have left in order to permit this secondary parasite to build up in
numbers and thus reduce blowfly numbers. Since this wasp parasitizes other
Dipteran species (Whiting, 1967), Kibler (1969) did not feel that there is
sufficient evidence to warrant leaving the nesting material in the nest box
after fledging."
He continues-----
"The question of whether or not to remove the material after fledging,
nevertheless, hardly seems critical. Since M. vitripennis does control Apaulina
numbers, the material should not be removed and burnt or otherwise destroyed.
But other than that, the secondary parasitism seems to occur close enough to the
fledging time to have already taken effect when most boxes would be cleaned out.
Material from an old nest, it seems to me, is as likely to be parasitized
secondarily if it is on the ground as it is if left in the box. It should be
added that I found no evidence that M. vitripennis overwinter in S. sialis
nests, as Mason (op. cit.) claims, i.e., the wasps all emerged from several late
summer nests."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sialia Volume 4, Number 2(1982) page 49, my good friend in Timberville,
Virginia; Ira Campbell states the facts: By extending the bottoms of some
experimental nest boxes and using hardware cloth on the bottom; blowfly
parasitism was significantly reduced.
Note: the 3/8 inch(9.525mm) hardware-cloth screen is 1inch(25.4mm) above floor.
He followed up his study with results in Sialia Volume 6, Number 2(1984) page 70
------"For the breeding season I equipped 53 boxes with the platform and again
experience no fledging loss due to blowfly parasitism. Not only am I convinced
of the value of the platform, but now I can offer simplified method of
construction. Miss Fran Hanes of Utica, NY wrote to me with the suggestion which
is illustrated below."
He and I still use the elevated screen floor with excellent results. He lives 60
miles from me and we discuss this and other issues often. For us, as far as we
are concerned, we have closed the door on Blowfly problems.
It seems to me that the Gilbertson and Peterson boxes contain only a small
amount of nesting material in them; Does this also reduce blowfly parasitism??
I'm sure it does.
How many woodpecker nest have blowfly parasitism? None that I've ever seen.
I hope this clears up some of the many misconceptions being discussed on
Blowflies here on the Bluebird List
Ron Kingston Charlottesville VA
North American Bluebird Society Speakers' Bureau Chairman
kingston"at"cstone.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Kingston
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Date: Friday, February 05, 1999 11:34 PM
Subject: Bluebird Kind of Day
Ron Kingston, Charlottesville VA, near the Blue Ridge Mountains
There is some misconceptions out there about the raised mess floor to deter
blowflies. My good friend Ira Campbell of Timberville, VA designed the floor
back in the late 70's(check your old Sailias). We only use 3/8 hardware
cloth(rabbit cage wire) here. One half (1/2)inch allows too much nesting
material to fall through (Chickadees eggs too), but allows the blowfly larvae to
past through. If bluebirder here in Central Virginia have sparrows, we "Trap". I
understand from some bluebirders that Steve Gilbertson's PVC box has had good
success here also.
Ron Kingston Charlottesville VA
North American Bluebird Society Speakers' Bureau Chairman
Subj: Re: search engines/blowflies/screened bottoms
Date: 7/27/99 4:01:47 PM Central Daylight Time
From: birdsfly"at"innercite.com (Hatch Graham)
Hi Dusty & all:
I just looked at the close up of the blowfly maggots at UNL website. I'm sorry
but they sure don't look like what is attached to my birds from time to time.
They look like "ordinary" maggots. I notice the scientific names of the various
"blow flies" (sic) don't match the genera mentioned by others here, either. I'm
saying: don't rely on these pictures to identify the blowflies that attack
cavity-nesting birds. These pictures are, as you say, dead meat flies. Well, the
birds "our" blowflies attack aren't dead.
Hatch.
Dusty Bleher wrote:
---clip---
As for the blow fly debate: To some degree, I think I precipitated that
because I couldn't find any info on them. Well, askjeves.com strikes again.
For some pictures try:
http://ianrwww.unl.edu/ianr/entomol/images/blowflies/blowflies.htm
(thanks,
Fread). With those pictures, I now know what you all are referring to when
you say "blow fly". Having grown up in a German household, I always knew
them by their literal translation as, "dead meat fly" (or just "meat fly" to
me...). And yes, Linda, unfortunately we *do* have them here in California.
They're just not as prevalent in the valleys and desert areas. Probably due
to the dry air. Dead things tend to mummify quickly. And those guys need
moist rotting meat...
--
Hatch Graham, Editor, Bluebirds Fly! California Bluebird
Recovery Program
El Dorado County ...
Subj: Re: Blow
Fly Prevention
Date: 1/17/00 10:45:42 AM Central Standard Time
From: RWil2654"at"aol.com
Since we are getting ready to put up more nesting boxes and check the old ones
maybe it would be a good time to think about the Blow Fly problem. I always put
a few raisons in the cleaned out box and was wondering if it would be a good
time to add pine needles. I have piles of them so I guess it will not hurt to
add them to the raisons and see if it helps. Has any one had any favorable
results doing this? I have not lost any birds to blow flies that I know of to
date.
Bob Wilson
2654 Sperber Lane
Grand Junction, CO 81506...
Subj: blow flies
Date: 1/17/00 5:53:48 PM Central Standard Time
From: eemmuu"at"att.net (The Carriers
...
Question:- A year back, I read somewhere that farmers of old, use to spread lime
over thier manure piles to keep flies in check. Suposidly, it kills maggot!
SO....If we put a little lime under box nests, would it kill the blow fly larve?
I belive lime is not toxic, is it?....What do you think out there?
........Cold Paul from CT..and haven't seen my Blues today!
Subj: slots for
mountain bluebirds/lime
Date: 1/17/00 8:36:07 PM Central Standard Time
From: kridler"at"1starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
...
Lime:Hydrated lime is caustic and will harm mucous membranes. It burns if you
get it in your eyes!!! IF it is placed in a box (under the nest) after the nest
is built it might be OK but it will be hard to keep out of reach of the birds
after the nest is cleaned again. Interesting thought though! Farmers have dusted
their crops to repel or kill insects and adjust soil PH. I had read that
hydrated lime can be "made" by burning marble. After the fall of the Roman
Empire many of the building built of marble were dismantled to burn and create
"Lime" for farmers to improve the poor soils of the Mediterranean region....I
wonder if this is true or a good story to protect the real thieves....KK
Subj: Lime
Date: 1/18/00 6:35:29 AM Central Standard Time
From: kridler"at"1starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: kridler"at"1starnet.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
Keith Kridler Northeast Texas is headed for the warmest winter since records
were kept starting in the 1880's.
Hydrated lime: In the past used to "chalk" lines on baseball & football fields
has now been replaced with powdered marble dust due to the caustic properties.
Used for sanitizing houses during plagues in the past, mixed with water and
painted inside & outside houses this mixture was called "white wash". Mixed half
and half with Portland cement it will yield "masonry cement" to bond sand to
brick. Prior to Portland cement a mixture of 8 cubic feet hydrated lime to one
cubic yard of sand was the mixture used to lay brick. First major commercial use
of Portland cement in the world was the foundation of the Eiffel tower in
France. Available to plants immediately! You must use extreme care not to apply
too much to garden areas!
limestone: ground up, left behind seashells and other skeletal remains. Mostly
used for agricultural purposes to adjust soil PH. Slow availability to plants,
must be used 6 months before use by clover and similar plants.
Dolomite lime: A pelletized version of limestone designed for home garden uses.
Testing lime: Anytime we think of an additive or treatment for nesting bluebirds
we should do a test on House Sparrows or Starlings. Do a worst case scenario
test. After the young sparrows hatch out dust them everyday twice a day with
your test product and if it kills them then don't use it in a bluebird nest! If
you use lime in a nestbox bottom I would use the "white wash" slurry as this
will get hard and resist "dusting". Limestone itself is a natural product and
birds nest in holes in limestone cliffs so I can't see where it will hurt the
birds or blowflies either but might be worth trying. I would test these products
only in cities or areas where only House Sparrows or Starlings would use the
box! They also get blowflies so you could see if they work before using on
native cavity nesters. Maybe Ron Kingston could expound on the use of the hardware cloth, raised platform for
reducing blowflies? KK
Subj: Lime
Date: 1/18/00 8:58:08 AM Central Standard Time
From: nestbox"at"1starnet.com (Kathleen Oschwald)
Very informative post, Keith! The two major farm uses I'm aware of are odor
control on manure piles and in barns, and pH adjusting on soils. I use hydrated
lime myself on the floor of my horses' stalls, primarily for odor control, but I
am extremely careful to make sure it is well covered with bedding before letting
my horses in, and always use gloves, taking care not to breathe it. As Keith has
pointed out, it is VERY caustic and harmful to mucous membranes, plants, etc.
The way it is used on manure piles is generally not harmful, because it is not
likely to come into contact with most animals, before it gets dissolved and
absorbed, or neutralized by the acidic substances in manure, soil, etc. In a
nestbox, which has a very small volume, the birds could contact it directly, and
possibly breathe the dust, especially the babies, who cannot get out.
A lot of the agricultural lime is pelletized and slower-release, so it does not
burn the plants while it is raising the soil pH. I suspect it might be too slow
to effect any real control on blowfly larvae.
I believe the caustic nature of hydrated lime would make it the best at
controlling the blowfly larvae, but in my opinion it would pose too great a risk
to the birds we are trying to help. I personally wouldn't try it on baby
sparrows, either. If we must dispatch them it should be as quickly and
painlessly as possible. Some of the other forms listed by Keith might be tried
in this manner.
Subj: RE: blow flies
Date: 1/19/00 8:20:14 PM Central Standard Time
From: mcwrigh"at"nppd.com (Wright, Merlin C.)
If the blowflies are on the ground and you pour lime on them, they will be
killed by it. If you pour the lime on the ground, it will become deactivated as
dew and rain contact it. Therefore, I don't advise this method. If you plan to
proceed, be sure to wear a mask because the lime is harmful to your lungs and
forms a cloud of fine dust when you pour it. Lime is calcium oxide and when
added to water becomes lime hydroxide and when carbon dioxide in the air
combines with it, turns into calcium carbonate which is the material of
limestone which is used as rock for roads along which you place nestboxes. If
you place road rock in an oven and bake out the water and carbon dioxide, you
will produce lime.
Merlin Wright at Brownville Nebraska
...
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 16:42:04 -0600
From: jwick"at"tds.net (Ann E S Wick)
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
from Ann Wick, Black Earth, WI (20 miles west of Madison, S. WI)
REGARDING:
Duncraft sells a birdhouse that is fitted with a metal screen in the bottom which is designed so that larvae can fall through and thus not attach to the chicks. We purchased two of them, however, we only had chickadees nest in the boxes. Last year, we removed the screen altogether. Anyone else use this type of box? With any success? Patty Haught, Fairview, WV
I'M TAKING THE LIBERTY OF REPOSTING DORENE SCRIVEN'S REPLY TO A SIMILAR
QUESTION REGARDING THE METAL SCREENING PLACED IN THE BOTTOM OF BLUEBIRD
NESTBOXES:
A few people feel that this has helped, because they can lift the wire up a
bit and scrape out the blowflies during the day. But of course if they don't
keep the blowflies out that way, they'll just migrate back up to the chicks at
night. It doesn't STOP blowflies from being in the box. Bluebirds have not
rejected it, either before or after nest building that I know of, but they have
sometimes built the nest up too high (i.e. too close to the entrance hole) which
would be particularly true if it is inserted after the nest is built. Why not
just gently lift up the nest at monitoring time, and brush out the blowfly
larvae from the bottom. This is particularly easy to do in a Peterson box, with
the slightly downward slanting bottom. Blowflies per se do not usually KILL the
chicks unless they are stressed anyway (underfed, cold, hot, etc.). Chicks
should always be checked, too, especially near the eyes, under the wings,and the
legs. (Not after 12-14 days, however). It is almost impossible to check under a
nest in a box that opens only from the top.
-Dorene Scriven, BBRP, MN
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 19:42:00 EST
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
To: Bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Dear bluebirders:
Dean Sheldon ask me to run a note regarding whether I still wanted to examine
bird nests for blowflies. The answer is yes, I will take all the nests I can
get. I examined about 400 nests sent to me last season and most were infested. I
am working with Lisa Wheeler at Cornell to mail out another letter to
cooperators. I have signed up on this list and will be happy to respond to any
questions. I have written a detailed summary of last years results and am trying
to figure out a way to make it easily available to those interested. I'm open to
suggestions. The most exciting aspect of my studies this past year is that
several nests from the far Northeast yielded a new species of Protocalliphora
which I'm currently describing.
Terry Whitworth, PhD
Entomologist
3707 96 E
Tacoma WA 98446
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000 07:58:50 -0500
From: "Brenda Best" jabbest"at"dreamscape.com
Subject: Re: nest collections for bird nest blowfly-Protocalliphora
Terry,
Last year we were advised of your project in the middle of the breeding
season and didn't have to face "long-term" storage of the nests. I recall last
year that you had, at first, advised zip-lock bags were unacceptable, but later
said they were OK. If I save nests in zip-locks to ship at the end of the
season, will zip-locks cause them to become moldy?
Great news on the new Protocalliphora! I hope this season brings you more
specimen.
Brenda
--
Brenda Best
Durhamville, NY...
Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 11:11:38 -0500
From: "John (Jack) Werren"
Subject: Research on Insects in Nests
Dear Bluebirders,
I am a researcher who studies insects occurring in bird nests. As part of this
project, I are investigating the genetic diversity of the birdnest insects. We
(my lab group) have some interesting preliminary results, but we really need to
do a more widespread sampling, including getting nests from different locations
in North America and from different bird species to see if particular insects
specialize on particular nests.
I was wondering whether you would be willing to assist us in this project. It
would involve collecting some nests shortly after fledging of the young and
mailing the nests to us. The method is simple, you put the nest in a ziplock
bag, put a label in with your name address, the date and species of bird, seal
the bag and send it to us in a box by regular mail or UPS. Four-five nests would
be good. Don't worry if you do not see any insects in it. They are often hidden
in the nest material.
We are particularly interested in nest blowflies and the small beneficial
insects that attack these. So, if you know that blowflies are present in a nest,
we would be especially interested. But if not, we are still quite interested in
getting nest material from other areas.
Also, we would like to get nests from a diverse array of species, to see if
there are insect specialists in different nests. So, nests from English
Sparrows, chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, et cetera are also appreciated.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please let me know and we
will make arrangements.
Sincerely,
Jack Werren
Professor of Biology
University of Rochester
Rochester, N.Y. 14627
Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 19:12:49 EST
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: Report Summary Protocalliphora in Bird Nests Summer 1999
The following is a summary of the data I compiled from nests sent by Cornell
Cooperators for the 1999 nesting season.
I received 394 bird nests representing 32 bird species from 26 States and
British Columbia. Fifty-three percent of the nests (209) were infested with
Protocalliphora. Sixty-two percent of eastern bluebird nests (53 of 86) were
infested, while 47% of western bluebird nests (9 of 19) were infested. Other
highlights include, 12 of 15 ash-throated flycatcher nests were infested and 69
of 110 tree swallow nests were infested. Of the total, 50 nests (24%) had 50 or
more lavae or pupae. Eighteen nests (8.6%) had over 100 larvae or pupae each.
All the nestlings in these nests were probably severally impacted by larval
feeding. An earlier study I published in 1992 showed that larval populations of
10 or more larvae per nestling often made nestlings anemic and more likely to
die. E-mail me a note with your address if you would like a copy of that paper.
Nine species of Protocalliphora were involved in these infestations including
one I am presently describing as a new species. I also found several other
possible new species, but I need more specimens to make a final decision. To
resolve the new species question, I need more adult flies from nests. To get
adult flies, nests must be collected and sealed in bags within 10 days of
fledging. After about 10 days most adult flies will emerge from pupae and leave
the nest.
I am especially interested in more specimens from the Midwest, the Plains
States, the Southwest and Canada. I also need the nests of a variety of other
birds, such as warblers, flycatchers, shrub nesting species, crows, raptores,
barn swallows, chickadees, and wrens. I know most of these don't occur in nest
boxes, but you may encounter them in your travels.
For those of you who collected nests last year or are thinking of collecting
them this year, here are a few details to consider.
Last year I recommended paper sacks over plastic ziplocks for nest collection
because there is less risk of mold if nests are wet when collected. However, many nests were sent in ziplocks anyway and there was not a problem, as long as
they didn't sit too long. Do not freeze them or you kill larvae and pupae.
Ziplocks also do a much better job of containing mites and fleas, which could
escape and get on other packages during shipping. If you use paper sacks, seal
them in a plastic garbage bag. Do not send nests that failed early since they
won't be parasitized.
Sending nests via the U.S. Postal Service is probably the cheapest way. It's not
necessary to pad nests since they already have built in padding.
The Federal Fish and Wildlife Service has issued me a blanket permit which
allows me to accept old empty nests from Cornell Cooperators. You should not need additional permits unless your state game department has a special
requirement.
The basic information I need for each nest is as follows: Bird species, nest box
number (if you have one), date fledged, number fledged (if known), state, county and locality where collected. Please write this on each bag, on paper
inside each bag, or give me a sheet with information and number each bag. Be sure to give me your name and address so I can send you a report.
Incidentally, I send a report on what I find in each nest to each person who
sends me nests. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Terry Whitworth, PhD
Entomologist
Tacoma, WA
WPCTWBUG"at"AOL.COM
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 10:39:06 EST
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: address to send bird nests to
Bluebirders,
Sorry about no address on the report summary. I'm blaming my secretary, but I
didn't catch it in the proof. My address is 3707 96 E, Tacoma, WA 98446.
Terry Whitworth
Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 13:42:57 EST
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: controlling blowflies in bird nests
Bluebirders,
I have found a couple of references to installing hardware cloth in nests to
discourage blowflies, but I haven't found the original work. Does anyone know
where the original work was done? I'm also trying to find the E-mail address for
Raleigh Robertson at Queen's University in Ontario.
Thanks
Terry Whitworth
Tacoma WA
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 23:11:33 EDT
From: "Rwatts"
To: bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Blowflies--Getting ready
Rhonda Watts
Wilton, N.H.
Has anyone else tried using parasitic wasps to control blowflies? I originally
got them to cut down on flies from the barn and manure pile. Seemed to me there
were fewer blowfly pupae that year, that is, less as the summer went on. I
didn't get around to ordering the wasps last year, and it seemed there were more
blowflies. Definitely not a scientific observation on my part, just a 'trend'.
Let me/us know if you've tried the wasps, and if so, any results?
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 07:00:59 -0600
From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler" kridler"at"1starnet.com
Subject: parasitic wasps
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
There are many parasitic wasps that attack almost any insect. I took an aphid
covered branch from my greenhouse last week to a Master Gardener program to show
the wasps attacking the aphids. A very tiny parasitic wasp (smaller than an
adult aphid) is controlling my problem without sprays. They just "appeared" in
the green house.
As far as buying the wasps specific for blowflies in nest boxes it will be
difficult to force them to check out the boxes! These wasps are found in nearly
all parts of the country. It is probably better to have the nests where the
wasps can do a better job of hunting for blowflies. Using the 1/4" hardware
cloth platform that is 1" tall under the Bluebird nests will keep the nest drier
and allow the wasps to inspect near the bottom of the nest easier. It allows for
the blowfly larva to fall through the wire and may not allow them to crawl back
to the young birds to feed on them. Ron Kingston needs to post about this once
again and give credit to the man who designed this platform.
I met a man in Montana back in the 80's that cuts the corners off the bottoms
of his boxes with a table saw with the blade set on about 30 degrees instead of
90 degrees. This will make a sloping pit at each corner of the box bottom and he
claimed that the blowflies would reach the bottom of the box and fall down this
pit as they crawled around the box bottom. I started using this method and it
keeps the nests drier, the corner holes do not plug up with dirt. No spiders or
mud wasps can build in these drainage "pits" like they will in the round holes
or when you simply cut a little off of the bottom's corners. The wire platform
and the "pits" will NOT eliminate blowflies! They just make it easier for the
natural predators.
Operate your trail to maximize the production of the parasitic wasps! Collect
all nests within 7 days of the young birds fledging. Carefully place ALL
material and dirt into a bucket or bag and carry this home with you. Place all
nests in five gallon buckets (55 gallon barrels if lots of nests) and cover
these completely with normal window screen wire to trap the emerging blowflies
but the screen will allow the wasps to escape since they are small enough to
pass through the wire. These old nests must be kept in an open carport or barn
out of sun and protected from rain. Fasten the wire securely! Snakes and
predators will attempt to tear into these containers!
We have a chance this year to help in two research projects combined by
helping collect nests and sending them in to Terry Whitworth. These will look
for new parasitic wasp species and blowflies. Terry will do the main work
forwarding on the information Jack Werren is interested in. There are about 300
"Bluebirders" on this list and only a handful have signed on for this project! I
am off to work so someone forward on the new instructions from Jack and Terry
about this project. I have done this twice over the years and it is easy and fun
to be connected with research that actually will help MY cavity nesting birds.
This also includes ALL bird nests this year! So get busy and hunt for bird
nests! KK
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 11:36:18 EDT
From: "Rwatts" rwatts"at"mymailstation.com
Subject: re: parasitic wasps
Rhonda Watts
Wilton, N.H.
thanks, Keith, for further info. As far as how to interest the wasps in going
to the boxes: Several of my boxes are placed in the "toilet" areas of the horse
pastures (given enough room, pastured horses will "designate" specific areas
where they prefer to drop manure-- years ago I decided that might be a happy
hunting ground for parent birds looking for insects!)
For those who haven't dealt with parasitic wasps, they come *in* the fly
pupae cases-- gives you a funny feeling to be scattering pupae around
intentionally. Besides scattering them on the manure piles, I also put them out
in the pasture toilet areas, as a normal fly breeding area despite cleanup. This
also, of course, put the wasps within easy reach of at least some nests.
You're right- it will be interesting to see what the research projects do
show up about the wasps. Would it help when the nests are sent in to note which
nests came from areas near where the wasps were set out?
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 20:13:42 EDT
From: "Rwatts" rwatts"at"mymailstation.com
Subject: Blowflies & fly predators
Rhonda Watts
Wilton, N.H.
O.K., I took the bull by the horns. Got my order material for the fly
predators which attack the pupae of the many fly species which pester livestock.
There was an 800 number for Q's, so I called to ask them if these parasitic
wasps would, in fact, attack the blowfly species which infest nests. The
representative I spoke with was very helpful, if rather taken aback-- took down
the scientific name (which I got out of Zeleny), said she would put it before
their entemologist, and would call back, maybe tomorrow. I told her if it came
back positive I would spread the word far and wide-- fingers crossed, everybody!
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 10:17:24 -0400
From: Don Cragin dcragin"at"pivot.net
Subject: Re: bluebirds
Thank you for all your help.
I've been bluebirding for about 3 years, and I've only had 1 problem with
blowflies. I was able to kill them before they had the chance to get any babies.
They successfully fledged. I am only going to check the box once a week. I think
the nest building and egg laying and incubating is the most fragile part, too
much consistent monitering could make the birds leave. They are less likely to
abandon if there are babies. I also heard from a friend to check at night with a
flashlight. Just cover the hole with your hand, and check quickly. Leave your
hand over the hole for a few minutes, so the birds don't fly into the night and
become an easy meal for an owl. They also just checked out the bluebird house I
put on the porch. Never seen them so close before. Absolutely gorgeous.
Thanks for all your help.
Derek Cragin
...
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 20:42:14 EDT
From: JaneHopeC"at"aol.com
To: bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: blowfly questions
Hi all,
Two questions I am still confused about after reading what I can about
blowflies.
1) Some books say that they are not usually a problem in nests of pine
needles. All the nests of EABL that I have at home and the golf couse are mostly
or entirely of white pine needles. Have people found it to be true that they are
not a problem in these nests or should I still look out for them?
2)If so, when? Do they only appear after there are nestlings and /or later in
the year?
Thanks
Jane
Pound Ridge
NY
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 22:34:37 -0400
From: "Elizabeth Nichols" birdlady"at"netstorm.net
To: JaneHopeC"at"aol.com
Cc: Bluebird-L"at"Cornell.edu
Subject: Re: blowfly questions
...
Hi Jane: Blowfly larvae are most active when the weather turns warm.
They also are known to thrive if the warm weather is accompanied by a damp nest.
In your area until the weather warms up you should have no problems w/them.
Check 7-8 day old nestlings by looking at abdomen for tiny red marks indicating
where larvae are feeding. If you see the marks take out the nest & examine for
the nasties hiding until dark when they begin to feed on nestlings. Remove all
the larvae you can find. If heavily infested I would change nest to soft grasses
also ck. bottom of box & clean that too.
Hope this helps.
Betty Nichols, Middletown, MD
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 08:24:21 -0500
From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler"
Subject: collect non-cavity nests
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas 8+" of rain in four weeks, pretty nice after a
three year drought!
Blow fly research: While some of us are sending in nests found in our nestboxes
Terry W. really needs more nests of other species of open nesting birds that we
might encounter! As soon as those pesky mockingbirds leave the nest, place the
nest in a gallon zip loc baggie with bird species, nearest town & county ETC.
& ship them off with your other nest(s). Don't forget the cardinal nest or those
red winged blackbirds at your favorite lake! Let your friends & neighbors know
that you are sending off nests and have them watch their yard! This is a GREAT
way to get others interested in birds! Have them stroll by "their" bird's nest
each day until they fledge, get them hooked and aware that cats and predators
are a major problem for all birds! Taking your children or grand children out
for a "Nature day" spent leisurely moving from area to area (extended picnic
with blanket and card games ETC) in search of nesting birds (butterflies,
clouds, leaves, flowers,rocks, bugs ETC). Don't forget water! You need some to
drink and some to wade in! Nothing builds memories more than being able to wade
and play in water and get really muddy. Extra clothes and shoes are a must!
Collect treasures! A quart jar filled with rocks,
shells ETC. or a few flowers or leaves pressed in a children's book will mean
nothing to them next year but include a note or letter and send this to them
while they are in college and they will cherish it forever! If you forget about
collecting bird nests I am sure that Terry W. will understand! If you do happen
to find some send them to:
Terry Whitworth, PhD
Entomologist
3707 96th St. East
Tacoma, WA 98446
Phone 253-531-7925
Email: WPCTWBUG"at"AOL.COM
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 23:05:42 -0500
From: "R_C Walshaw" walshaw"at"gte.net
Subject: Dusty - Bulk Shipping of nests
Re: Dusty's comments on bulk shipping of nests. HELP! I have mine in sealed
gallon bags and these in turn are sealed in a large heavy gauge plastic bag. I
had planned to ship 40 or 50 next month. Is there a problem with this? Keith?
Terry? Bluebird Bob, Northeast Oklahoma.
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 07:46:11 -0400
From: "Katherine S. Wolfthal" kate"at"nirvana.ziplink.net
Subject: Re: Bulk Shipping of nests
The following paragraphs are quoted from Terry Whitworth's instructions for
shipping nests, that came with the Birdhouse Network packet:
- Keep bags you are saving to send in a cool, dry location, out of the sun.
- If you keep the bags for a while to send several at once, adult flies will
emerge in the bag. You will hear them buzzing, but don't worry as long as they
can't escape.
What about sending them in two batches - the ones that are ready now and the
rest later?
...
Katherine
Weston, MA
-------------
kate"at"nirvana.ziplink.net
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 07:38:08 -0500
From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler" kridler"at"1starnet.com
Subject: Re:shipping nests
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
You should try to collect the nests for shipping to Terry Whitworth for the
blowfly research within a week of fledging of the young birds. Sooner maybe
better on collecting but is not always practical for large trails. By placing
them in Gallon Ziploc bags within a week will capture the adults as
they finish pupating and this allows Terry to identify the species of blowfly.
If the blowfly have the parasitic wasps then they will have their life cycle in
the dying blowfly and will hatch at a later date and these if found will be
forwarded on to John Werren in New York for his work with them. If they are live
it will be better of course but even dead they can locate new species and
concentrate on that area of the country for further more timely collections!
I have found that shipping a box a week on Friday priority mail gets them
there over the weekend. A medium sized box containing 12-20 nests runs about $5
to ship so is not a real factor and the smaller boxes are easier to get rid in
the trunk. I am running behind this week and only have three nests so far and
may wait and ship a two week batch and I don't think this will be a problem.
Collect your nests! Especially nests other than bluebirds such as Tit mice and
other birds have had more blowflies this year! I will post later this week the
address to ship to. Keith Kridler (KK) or alpha code
KEKR
Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 10:12:20 EDT
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: bird blowflies
Just a note to nest contributors. If you e-mail me questions, please use
blowflies in your subject line. I delete many Messages based on subject and may miss your Message if the subject doesn't sound relevant to me. I'm on about
10 lists and must screen numerous e-mails. I answer all e-mails, so if you
E-mailed me and didn't get a response try again.
Actually I should hire Keith his answers are better than mine. The advantage
of getting nests promptly is that adult flies have not yet emerged and I can sort out pupae and prepare for adult emergence. Nests with live flies
are a real challenge though I cool them down and can sort them out.
Nests with dead flies require me to sort carefully thru the nest and pick out
fragile, brittle flies which then need to be softened and pinned. I have started
to get a lot of nests and I really appreciate the great response. I will take
nests any way you want to send them, so don't feel you have to send a shipment
every week. I'm just delighted to get them to study.
Terry Whitworth
Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 23:06:01 -0400
From: t_k_bennett"at"juno.com
Subject: Info on Blowflies
Hello Terry,
To answer your question on Blowflies:
Blowflies are a type of fly that lay their eggs in birds nests. The eggs
hatch and the young flies, called larvae or maggots, suck the blood do nestling
bluebirds. They do this at night; during the day they crawl down and hide in the
nesting material. Blowfly maggots are oval and grayish and grow to about 3/8"
long. They then turn into pupae, which look like black capsules about 3/8'long.
In about 10-14 days they emerge as adult flies. Blowflies do not usually kill
bluebirds unless there is a lg. infestation.
To check for blowflies, lift the up the bottom of the nest, gently tape it,
and carefully look through the nest material. If you find any blowfly larvae or
pupae, brush them out. In cases where there area large number of larvae, 50-100
or more, fashion a new nest out of clean, dry grass, remove the old nest, and
put the babies in the new nest.
Some bluebirders have tried putting little platforms of 3/8" hardware cloth
1" up form the bottom of the nest. The bluebird builds the nest on top of it;
theoretically, the larvae fall through the hardware cloth and are not able to
climb back into the nest. Others have found this to be ineffective, for many
larvae remain in the nest material where it is denset, just below the cup.
From: The Bluebird Book By : Don and Lillian stokes
Terry, may I suggest that you subscribe to the Bluebird-L list? It is very
helpful if you have any questions about Bluebirds and cavity nesters.
To subscribe as follows:
Send To: listproc"at"cornell.edu
Message: SUBSCRIBE BLUEBIRD-L TERRY COCHRAN
Kathy Bennett
Durhamville, ( Central ) N.Y.
Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 09:54:43 EDT
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: bird nest blowflies
Bluebirders,
I'm still getting questions if I want nests and the answer is yes! If you
e-mail me, please, please put blowflies in the subject! The first nests to come
were from the South and infestation rates were low. I just processed a large
shipment from Wisconsin with almost 50% of the nests infested. Just a few
reminders, include a note with your name, address, and e-mail, if you have one.
Please give me the locality and the county the nests came from. Please label
each bag with bird species unless they are all the same. I just got a shipment
of, at least 2 bird species nests with no ID on the bags.
Finally, don't worry that I'll get more nests than I can handle. I received
over 100 nests last week and could have handled many more. No matter how many
nests I receive I will give a report to each contributor. I also need more
unusual nests, not just bluebirds, if you find them. Examples are barn swallows,
robins, warblers, flycatchers, crows, grackles, chickadees, wrens and any other
nests you find. The only criteria are young should have fledged, failed nests
won't be parasitized, and they need to be altricial species where young spend,
at least, a week or so in the nest. Your help in this project will give Jack
Werren and I a much better picture of the species and infestation rates of
Protocalliphora in North America. I know mailing nests is a lot of work and I
thank you all for your efforts.
Terry Whitworth
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 11:50:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: Barry Whitney barryw"at"therock.mcg.edu
Subject: Non-Dangerous fly larvae -- Re: What to do with dead nestlings
Dear Mary Beth,
It is important to be clear that the maggots that feed on the dead birds are
NOT any danger to living nestlings. The carrion maggots will not hurt the living
birds. They are simply recycling the nutrients into the cycle of life.
To be sure of this, I asked Terry Whitworth, our entomology expert, and he
said,
"...bird blowflies are not carrion feeders and dead nestlings will not
attract them. Bird blowflies feed on the blood of live birds and will abandon
nestlings that die. There are numerous other blowflies that do feed on carrion
and resemble bird nest blowflies but they are not a threat to live healthy
nestlings."
Earlier this spring, I sent Terry a bagged nest with two dead young EAstern
BLuebirds (pine-needle-over-moss nest, started by a titmouse or chickadee) with
literally hundreds of carrion maggots, and he confirmed that they were in fact
NOT blowfly larvae. That is what I had suspected,
but it was nice to get confirmation that the many larvae had not actually caused
the deaths of the young birds. I believe that three young bluebirds had fledged
from that nest a few days earlier. Terry really does want to get all sorts of
cavity nesters' nests.
Yours, Barry
SC...
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 13:59:10 EDT
From: LauraSue14"at"aol.com
Subject: nest failure and hardware cloth
I have been using the hardware cloth in the bottom of my boxes to help with
the blowfly problem for many years. I've inspected all successful nests,
especially the second nesting of the season over the years and don't ever
remember seeing any infestations of blowflies. Of course they could have been in
the nests and escaped my notice but the only nest failures I've experienced were
due to weather conditions at hatching time. This year I have Black-Capped
CHickadees nesting in the favored bluebird box and in a new box in my yard. The
older box is NABS style and the new one is a larger, deeper version of the NABS.
I left the hardware cloth in the older box and the BCCH nest looked fine, about
3-4 inches of moss with fur lining and in the newer box, without hardware cloth,
the BCCH built the nest up about 6 or more inches to bring the top of the nest
closer to the entrance hole. Today I found the 5 day old nestlings dead in the
older nest box practically sitting on the hardware cloth bottom. The nestlings
looked underdeveloped to me and the weather conditions have been awful here
lately but I'm convinced that the chickadees would have built a deeper nest
without the hardware cloth and that contributed to the failure. I don't think
I'll use it anymore, but check for blowflies by lifting the nests in the future.
From reading the Bluebird-L classified (nice job on the search engine) it seems
the hardware cloth is not really necessary or particularly helpful to prevent
blowflies although air circulation could be improved by using it, especially in
very hot weather.
Any other thoughts on this?
Laura
Marlborough, CT
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 14:37:49 -0700
From: "W.Guglieri" wendyg"at"jps.ne
Subject: I was so sure I didn't have blowflies...
Greetings all:
Was out in the field last week with Hatch Graham, and we checked a nest of
recently fledged WEstern BLuebirds. The nest was neatly compacted to about 1 1/2
". Now this was a nestbox on my neighborhood trail, one that I had personally
checked at least 3 times for blowfly during monitoring. It didn't have any, or
so I thought. When I removed the old nest from the box to put in a bag for
sending to Terry Whitworth, I turned the little compressed "mat" over in my
hand, and there, squirming through the bottom of the nest, were a multitude of
blowfly larvae! (I could have guessed that's what they were, but having never
seen any, it was nice to have Hatch there to confirm my finding).
If I've learned anything at all from being on this List, it is to never use
superlatives. If I want to affect change, all I have to do is say "always",
"never", or "absolutely". I said recently that I'd "never" had a blowfly
infestation. Now I realize that I've likely had them, just didn't see them. So
while monitoring my golf course trail today, I looked very carefully through the
bottom nesting material of a nest with 5 WEBL nestlings, and sure enough -
blowflies. Perhaps I'll learn never to say never again.
Wendy Guglieri
Rescue, California
-in the Sierra Nevada foothills 40 mi. east of Sacramento-
wendyg"at"jps.net
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 14:59:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kerry Sweet ksweet3450"at"yahoo.com
Subject: Re: I was so sure I didn't have blowflies...
Wendy,
I don't think the Eastern Bluebirds in my nest box had blowflies either, the
5 babies fledged on the 5th and 6th and I looked at the nest and I don't think I
seen any but come to think of it I'm not sure I would know one if I seen one...is
there a place on the Internet that has a picture of what one looks like?? I just
assume they look like maggots?? right? wrong?
Any advise??
Thanks
Kerry in Okla.
...
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 18:38:35 -0400
From: "statton" statton"at"toolcity.net
Subject: Re: I was so sure I didn't have blowflies
Chris Statton
NW PA
(50 mi S of Erie)
Wendy ... one thing I've found very helpful to detect very small blowfly
larvae (to get them before they've attacked the babies enough to become the
pea-sized critters usually thought of) is to feel in the sheath dust on the
floor of the box under the nest - I pick the dust up and gently rub it between
fingers and thumb. This technique has allowed me to find the larvae when they
are still about 1/3 the size of a grain of uncooked rice - long before I could
ever see them if just lifting the nest and looking.
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 08:45:37 -0400
From: "Bruce Burdett" blueburd"at"srnet.com
Subject: Re: I was so sure I didn't have blowflies...
Kerry: You really should get yourself a good Bluebird book which has clear
photographs of the stages of the blowfly, and many other things as well.
Bruce Burdett, Sunapee NH blueburd"at"srnet.com
...
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 12:54:00 EDT
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: Bird Blowflies
Dear Birders,
After seeing the discussion on the list about bird blowflies, I'd like to
make a few comments.
The purpose of my study is to gather information on bird blowflies species,
distribution, infestation rates and nest populations. Bird disturbance is
minimal because I only look at nests after young fledge. Much of my past work on
bird blowflies has focused on the effect of blowfly larvae feeding on
nestling birds. The following are offhand comments and there is no intent to
criticize previous contributors.
1) Do bird blowflies harm nestlings?
The answer is, it depends. Low to moderate populations seem to have little
effect. Nestling birds are real blood generators and normally can replace blood
as fast as larvae can remove it. My studies showed that, when larval populations
exceeded about 10 actively feeding 3rd instar larvae per nestling, nestlings
became anemic and more susceptible to starvation, hypothermia and other
parasites like mites, fleas, and lice.
This means a nest with 4 nestlings would have to have 40 or more larvae in
their nests. In many areas, this would be an unusual condition. In some areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania, last year it was common. If you would like a
copy of a paper I published on this subject e-mail me with your address.
2) Should I check my nests for blowflies?
For the average birder, it's probably not necessary unless you have evidence of
heavy infestations. Even in heavily infested nests, nestlings are rarely killed
by blowfly larvae. Disturbing nestlings and parents by looking through their
nest for larvae will cost birds energy, which may equal the energy used to
replace blood lost to larvae. Also, you are disturbing some nests that are not
infested.
If you suspect blowfly populations may be high in your area, inspect nestling
abdomens for tiny scabs left by feeding larvae. In heavy infestations you also
may observe larvae attached to nestlings. If you find heavily infested nests,
you can physically remove larvae or do nest replacement as others have
suggested.
If you want help evaluating your nests for blowflies, wait until nestlings
fledge and send me your nests. I will tell you if they are infested and what the
numbers are.
3) Is there any reason not to control bird blowflies in nests?
Bird blowflies, like mites, fleas, diseases, weather and other adversity allow
survival of the fittest to function and helps ensure that only the fittest
nestling survive to reproduce. Nestling which are protected from adversity may
produce offspring that are less fit and less able to survive without human
intervention. Remember bird blowflies are perfectly natural and have co-evolved
with birds for millions of years. If they kill their hosts, they will die too.
This is not the final word on these issues, feel free to comment further.
Thanks to all that have sent me nests.
Terry Whitworth, PhD
Entomologist
3707 96th St E
Tacoma, WA 98446
253-531-7925
WPCTWBUG"at"AOL.COM
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 13:27:23 -0400
From: "statton" statton"at"toolcity.net
Subject: Chewing Tobacco v. Blowflies ... ???
Chris Statton,
NW PA
(approx 50 m S of Erie)
On a recent gardening program on PBS it was mentioned that a potent home-made
pesticide could be made simply by boiling chewing tobacco in water and spraying
the resulting liquid on the soil. It was cautioned that this mixture would kill
all bugs - both good and bad. (It was said that the liquid was actually some
kind of acid.) This information got me wondering if perhaps either the chewing
tobacco itself or a spritz of the liquid under the nest might be effective
against blowfly larvae. I don't know if anyone has ever tried this, if so -
how'd it work? If not, and the main inquiry of this post, does anyone know if
the presence of chewing tobacco or the liquid (under the nest only) would/could
be harmful to the nesting birds (bluebirds, tree swallows, etc.)?
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 14:38:13 -0500
From: "Bill Darnell" bdarnel3"at"bellsouth.net
Subject: Re: Chewing Tobacco v. Blowflies ... ???
Nicotine from tobacco is reputed to be an excellent insecticide. Since it
certainly hurts humans, I would say it would also hurt birds. Just my opinion.
Bill
Savannah, TN
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 17:07:29 -0500
From: Carolyn Hall cjhall"at"huntel.net
Subject: Re:Tobacco insect killer???
Bill Darnell wrote:
I simply soak 2 or 3 cigarettes in hot water, let it cool and then use that
to water houseplants which have white fly or aphids. Takes care of the problem
of plant sucking insects. I don't know what it will do to crawling insects such
as ants and blowflies. Guess someone should give a try.
Carolyn Hall, Bassett, NE
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 09:18:07 EDT
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: parasites-bird blowflies
Bluebirders,
Thanks to all who have sent nests, I'm receiving 25-50 per week and an
interesting mix of cavity nesting bird species. Please remember, I want almost
any bird species, not just bluebirds. So far I've gotten few tree swallows and
wrens, but I suspect that more will be coming later. I really need the nests of
some open nesters, if any of you have a chance to collect them. Common species I
need include, barn swallows, cliff swallows, bank swallows, robins, crows,
grackles, blackbirds, and starlings. I also need the harder to find nests of
warblers, flycatchers and small sparrows. I am sending University of Rochester
researcher Dr. Jack Werren about 80 samples of bird blowflies and blowfly
parasites for his ongoing DNA research. Your contributions will be a big help in
furthering our knowledge of these rare and poorly known insects.
Thanks to all,
Terry Whitworth, PhD
Entomologist
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 10:15:37 EDT
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: Who sent me these nests?
I just received a bunch of nests full of blowflies from a mailboxes, etc., in
Missoula, Mont. The bird species are identified, but there is no name or
collection site info. If you sent these or know who did, please contact me so I
can verify where they were collected and get an address to send a report to.Last
night I looked at about 50 nests from 8 contributors, they all arrived on
Thursday. I am getting excellent material from all over the country but It
really helps to have a sheet of paper in the box with your name, address, and
email. If there is enough space on the sheet, I can write a rough draft response
to you on your sheet and keep it on file in case I need to contact you. I then
turn it over to my secretary who types a formal report.
Thanks to all
Terry Whitworth
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 09:41:01 EDT
From: WPCTWBUG"at"aol.com
Subject: bird blowflies
Dear bluebirders:
Just an update on my progress. I have received over 500 nests since March. Many
of you have expressed concern that I will be swamped with nests, don't worry,
I've dedicated my summer to processing everything sent to me. I've gotten a lot
of nests in unpadded envelopes and they usually make it just fine. If they look
bulky the post office doesn't run them thru the canceling machine, but if the
nest material is thin they may run thru the machine andcrush pupae. Perhaps writing hand cancel on the envelope will help. I am getting
an excellent picture of blowfly infestations in all three bluebird species and
I'm also getting a lot of other nest box users. I would like more nests of
wrens, chickadees, tree swallows and other nest box species.
I know this groups focus is bluebirds, but I really need nests of open
nesters like warblers, flycatchers, barn swallows, crows, raptors, and sparrows.
Thanks for all your help, I expect to have a report for you in the late fall.
Terry Whitworth
3707 96 E, Tacoma WA 98446
Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 12:59:06 -0500
From: Mike Powers mep42"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Nest Study Report
Hi Bluebirders,
For some unknown reason the following letter wound up in a wrong folder
rather than on the list, so I'm simply forwarding it for Dr. Whitworth.
Regards,
Mike
January 3, 2001
Dear Bluebirders:
To those who sent me nests for my bird blowfly studies, I have finally compiled the data. In the year 2000 nesting season, I examined 1615 nests, of 50 different bird species. This is over four times the number of nests I examined last year. About 1200 of these nests were contributed by Cornell Cooperators. The data on bluebird nests was as follows: Eastern bluebird, 474 nests of which 112 were infested; Western Bluebird, 120 nests of which 47 were infested; and Mountain bluebird, 49 nests of which 43 were infested.
Infestation rates in Eastern bluebird nests were much lower than last year. In 1999 the infestation rate was 62%, this year it was only 24%. A major difference is, this year I received many nests from Texas and other southern states where blowfly infestation rates were very low. Infestation rates in the northern and northeastern U.S. were still quite high in most areas. I will be preparing a more detailed report later.
I plan to use this data in parts of 3 publications. One will deal with blowfly species distribution, host preferences, infestation rates, and pathogenicity of blowfly larvae to nestlings. Another will involve a
description of the puparia of blowfly species (27 species to date) and a key, which can be used to distinguish species based on puparia only. The final publication will describe, at last, two new species of the genus and will redescribe some poorly known species.
I will continue to accept bird nests this coming season though I won't always have time to correspond with each contributor like I have the past two years. I have seen enough bluebird nests to have a very good picture of infestation rates in most areas. I still have very little material from the central midwest (Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas), or the southwest (New Mexico and Arizona). I also need more nests of chickadees, wrens, warblers, flycatchers, raptors, crows, grackles, some swallows (barn, cliff, and bank), and any other unusual bird species.
I am working on a website that would provide more information on bird blowflies, and better information on how to collect nests. I will let you know when I have that site up. Thanks for all your help and feel free to contact me for more information. For those of you mailing me packages, I
have a new address:
2533 Inter Ave.
Puyallup, WA 98372
The old address will still work, but the new one is better.
Sincerely,
Terry Whitworth, PhD
Entomologist
Tacoma, WA
WPCTWBUG"at"AOL.COM
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