Dear Tweeters,

Last year many of you sent me nests to assist me in an ongoing study of the
bird nest blowfly, Protocalliphora. I am interested in getting more nests
this year. I have state and federal permits which allow me to receive nests
collected once young have fledged. For those who send me nests, I will
provide you with a report of parasite populations and add that data to my
ongoing study. Last year, nests I received from the northeastern U.S.
contained specimens which I have identified as a new species.

If you are interested in sending me some nests, here are the facts.

Collecting Bird Nests for Protocalliphora

Protocalliphora are calliphorids (blowflies) and like most other flies have
an egg, larva, and adult stage. Fly eggs are laid in nests or on nestlings
shortly after nestlings hatch. 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 adult flies
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 1 gallon ziplock
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. Please
include state, county and the nearest town where the nest was collected.
Small insects like mites and fleas will crawl from poorly sealed bags, so
make sure they are closed tightly. If there are lots of bugs, put the
ziplocks in a big garbage bag, seal it also. If you decide to include a note
in each bag, write in pencil or waterproof ink or data may be lost in a wet
bag.

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.
Only birds whose nestlings spend a week or more in the nests will be
infested. Birds like ducks or shorebirds will not be infested.

If you keep the bags for awhile 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. When shipping bags, don't worry about padding nests when
you send them. The nests provide their own padding. If you have many nests
to send and shipping costs are a concern, contact me for help with your
shipping costs.

Terry Whitworth, PhD
Entomologist
3707 96th St. East
Tacoma, WA 98446

Phone 253-531-7925
Email: WPCTWBUG at AOL.COM