Arthropods in the nests of lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina)

Beetles in nests of five passeriform birds (Carduelis chloris, Troglodytes troglodytes, Turdus merula, Turdus philomelos, Turdus pilaris) were represented altogether by 65 species. In the nest of the respective birds, the number of beetle species ranged from 8 to 25. Just a minor part of them were typical nidicols, especially Haploglossa nidicola and Gnathoncus spp. They, however, they occurred in the nests in a lower number of individuals than in nests of most other birds and their occurrence tended to be concentrated in few nests. The major part of beetles was ubiquists penetrating in the nests occasionally or searching there temporal cover. Their composition strongly reflected the environment, in which the nests were placed, in this case, the floodplain forests or suburban orchards. Only the fungivorous beetles were represented in the nests of the five birds species studied at the same level as in nests of other birds studied until present more in details.

Experimental and Applied Acarology, 2021

Bird and mammal nests provide microhabitats that support a range of other species, including invertebrates. However, the variation between communities of nest-dwelling invertebrates in different nests is poorly understood. The major aim of this study was to analyze the assemblage structure of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) and from superfamily Crotonioidea (Acari: Oribatida) inhabiting nests of the wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes), located on a forest floor in Białowieża Forest, in eastern Poland. We also assessed the correlation between the nest material used by the birds with the assemblage structure of Uropodina mites, and compared the results with published studies of the nests of other birds and a mammal (common mole, Talpa europaea), and also with communities of mites inhabiting the soil. The field research was conducted in the strict nature reserve of the Białowieża National Park, a near-primeval European temperate forest. I...

Experimental and Applied Acarology, 2023

The wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes), is a well-known model organism for studying bird migration, breeding habitat selection and nest predation. The nest acarofauna of this bird species has not been extensively studied so far. To provide a comprehensive report on mite species inhabiting wood warbler nests and to assess infestation parameters (prevalence, intensity, and abundance) for mite species and orders, we collected 45 nests of this bird species in the Wielkopolska National Park in western Poland. Analyses revealed a huge diversity (198 species) of mites inhabiting wood warbler nests. We found individuals belonging to the Mesostigmata, Trombidiformes and Sarcoptiformes. The Trombidiformes, represented in our study only by the Prostigmata, achieved statistically significantly lower intensity and abundance, compared to representatives of other orders. However, the number of recorded prostigmatid species was high (65). The most common were: Stigmaeus sphagneti (22 nests), Stigmaeus longipilis (16), Eupodes voxencollinus (15), Cunaxa setirostris (14), Stigmaeus pilatus (11), and Linopodes sp. 2 (10). The prevalence of Mesostigmata and Sarcoptiformes was equal, reaching 91.1%. Most of Gamasina (Mesostigmata) species found in this study were more characteristic of the soil environment and forest litter than bird nests, but there was also a typical bird parasite, viz. Ornithonyssus sylviarum. None of the observed species of Uropodina (Mesostigmata) or Oribatida (Sarcoptiformes) was typical for bird nests. Among the Uropodina, the highest parameters of nest infestation were achieved by Oodinychus ovalis, whereas among the Oribatida, they were achieved by Metabelba pulverosa. We discuss the importance of wood warbler nests for mite dispersal, survival and reproduction.

In the period 1993-2006, during investigation of reproduction biology of the bearded tit, 106 deserted nests of the species were collected in Slovakia, Austria and Italy and their arthropod fauna was analyzed. Occasionally introduced individuals of the pseudoscorpion Lamprochernes nodosus, a frequent species in Central Europe, were recorded in the nests. Altogether 984 individuals and 33 species of mesostigmatic mites (Acari) were found in 46.2% of the nests examined. The ectoparasite Ornithonyssus sylviarum was most abundant and frequent; it represented almost 68.3% of all individuals. Due to it, the parasitic mites predominated (69.4% of individuals). Other ecological groups were less represented: edaphic detriticols -11.6%, coprophils -10.7%, species of vegetation stratum -8.2%, and nidicols -0.2%. Beetles (40 species, 246 individuals) were present in 57 nests. Most of the beetles were strongly hygrophilous species inhabiting soil surface in the reed stands or other types of wetlands and the shore vegetation. Predators represented 59% of all individuals. They might find food in the nests, but none of the species had a close relationship to bird nests and represented 35% of species. All beetle species penetrated the nests occasionally, when ascending on the vegetation or searching cover during periods of increased water level. Occasionally, larvae and nymphs of the Dermacentor marginatus tick were found. They were most probably introduced by insectivores of the genusNeomys. Only one species of fleas, Ceratophyllus gareia parasite of birds nesting in humid environment, was recorded in the nests.

Biologia, 2007

In the period 1993-2006, during investigation of reproduction biology of the bearded tit, 106 deserted nests of the species were collected in Slovakia, Austria and Italy and their arthropod fauna was analyzed. Occasionally introduced individuals of the pseudoscorpion Lamprochernes nodosus, a frequent species in Central Europe, were recorded in the nests. Altogether 984 individuals and 33 species of mesostigmatic mites (Acari) were found in 46.2% of the nests examined. The ectoparasite Ornithonyssus sylviarum was most abundant and frequent; it represented almost 68.3% of all individuals. Due to it, the parasitic mites predominated (69.4% of individuals). Other ecological groups were less represented: edaphic detriticols-11.6%, coprophils-10.7%, species of vegetation stratum-8.2%, and nidicols-0.2%. Beetles (40 species, 246 individuals) were present in 57 nests. Most of the beetles were strongly hygrophilous species inhabiting soil surface in the reed stands or other types of wetlands and the shore vegetation. Predators represented 59% of all individuals. They might find food in the nests, but none of the species had a close relationship to bird nests and represented 35% of species. All beetle species penetrated the nests occasionally, when ascending on the vegetation or searching cover during periods of increased water level. Occasionally, larvae and nymphs of the Dermacentor marginatus tick were found. They were most probably introduced by insectivores of the genusNeomys. Only one species of fleas, Ceratophyllus gareia parasite of birds nesting in humid environment, was recorded in the nests.

Journal of Zoology, 2007

The greenery and arthropod nest composition has been studied in a population of Bonelli's eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus in south-east Spain, relating them to the plant availability within territories and breeding success of pairs. Greenery was invariably from trees and shrubs, with pine and oak species accounting for 78% of the nest composition in weight. All eagle pairs with Pinus pinaster availability in territories actively selected it for nest greenery. This pine species is characterized by a high level of aromatic compounds, particularly b-pinene, highly repellent for insects. The amount of pine greenery in the nest was correlated with a lower presence of ectoparasites in that nest (blow fly larvae, Protocalliphora), and higher breeding success of pairs. We discuss whether a coevolutionary process between parasites and their hosts has guided a particular nesting strategy of the eagles to improve their breeding success.

Veterinarska stanica, 2023

An analysis was conducted on the arthropod fauna collected from stork, swallow, and pigeon nests during summer 2018 in three regions of northeastern Algeria (Guelma, El-Tarf, and Annaba). A total of 40 nests was examined, of which 58% were infested with arthropods. Arthropods were less abundant and species rich in swallow nests than in pigeon or stork nests, where a greater dominance of mesostigmatic mites (78.71% and 72.41%, respectively) was found. Dermanyssus gallinae was the most abundant (33.05%) and most frequent (73.33%) mesostigmatic mite in pigeon nests, while Uropodina mites were dominant (41.37%) in white stork nests with a frequency of 76.92% of the nests analysed. In swallow nests, the following arthropods were found: Psocodea, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera belonging to the class Insecta and Isopoda belonging to the class Malacostraca. This is the first comparative survey of arthropods occupying the nests of these bird species in northern Algeria. It is anticipated that these data, that highlight the richness of the arthropod fauna in the nests of these bird species, will motivate further research aimed at characterising the arthropod community in different bird nests and determining the nature of the relationships between them.

Entomologica Fennica

During 1997—2002, 105 samples of mites were collected from 34 nests of the white-tailed sea eagle in Poland. The material included 9,724 specimens of Mesostigmata belonging to 86 species. The mite communities were dominated by species of the families Parasitidae, Macrochelidae and Ascidae. The most abundant species were Alliplzis halleri, Androlaelaps casalis, Parasitus fimetorum and Macrocheles merdarius that altogether made up 48% of all the specimens collected. Alliplzis halleri and Androlaelaps casalis were also the two most frequently found mites. A summary is presented on the biology and distribution of the abundant species.

Acta Ornithologica, 2013

Cantarero A., López-Arrabé J., Rodríguez-García V., González-Braojos S., Ruiz-de-Castañeda R., Redondo A. J., Moreno J. 2013. Factors affecting the presence and abundance of generalist ectoparasites in nests of three sympatric hole-nesting bird species. Acta Ornithol. 48: 39-54.

Entomology and applied science letters, 2021

In this article, we present a faunistic list of species of the order Coleoptera from 13 families: 40 species collected from the nests of 24 bird species in the North Caucasus. To our previously published data, the list of coleopteran species has increased by 2 species. We were able to identify about 20 optional species that got into the bird's nest by accident. These species are not covered and discussed in this article. The rest of the species have complex biocenotic relationships with the host's nest. The transition of species to habitat under conditions of microbiocenosis, which is the nest, is an important evolutionary step. Which deserves a thorough study. In terms of its geographical position, the North Caucasus is a refugium for birds; many species are sedentary throughout the year. This has resulted in a high level of biodiversity of nidicolous Coleoptera compared to the northern geographic regions. The material presented in the article served to create a database on the species of Coleoptera living in nests of birds, this will allow in the future to analyze the seasonal dynamics of the number, as well as the association with one or another host. This work is relevant in the light of the latest data on climate change as well as anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems. The species composition of birds is decreasing, while the number of synanthropic species is increasing. Accordingly, we can predict the number of nidicolous species, some of them are of great sanitary and epidemiological significance.