Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T18:39:34.406Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Ecological Study of the Insects and Mites in the Nests of certain Birds in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

G. E. Woodroffe
G. E. Woodroffe
Affiliation:
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Pest Infestation Laboratory, Slough, Bucks.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The chief aims of the survey and an important conclusion reached during some preliminary work are briefly stated. This latter was the recognition of two distinct nest types—the wet nest, exposed to rain, and the dry nest, sheltered from rain.

The methods used to examine materials and record results are described. They were closely similar to those described in a previous publication.

The insect fauna is listed under three headings: (a) ectoparasites of birds, which includes 12 species; (b) scavengers, including 66 species; and (c) predators, comprising 14 species. Figures are given for the frequency of occurrence and the abundance of the more important nidicole species, abundance being given as an arbitrary estimate. The importance of each as a pest is also briefly stated, and detailed records are given for uncommon or particularly interesting species.

The mite fauna is dealt with in a similar manner. It includes one ectoparasite, 10 scavengers and 11 predators.

The basic composition of nests and the temperature and humidity conditions within them are described briefly and the possible influence of these factors upon the nest fauna is discussed.

The species of the dry nest community are classified, according to their feeding habits, as ectoparasites of birds, scavengers and predators, and according to their status in the nest, as regular, occasional and incidental inhabitants. The distribution of the group of species which truly characterises this community is discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 44 , Issue 4 , December 1953 , pp. 739 - 772
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1953

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Deal, J. (1941). The temperature preferendum of certain insects.—J. Anim. Ecol., 10, pp. 323–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ford, L. T. (1949). A guide to the smaller British Lepidoptera.—230 pp. London, S. Lond. ent. nat. Hist. Soc.Google Scholar
Hinton, H. E. (1945). A monograph of the beetles associated with stored products. Vol. I.—443 pp. London, Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.).Google Scholar
Hughes, A. M. (1948). The mites associated with stored food products.—168 pp. London, Minist. Agric. Fish., H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Linsley, E. G. (1944). Natural sources, habitats and reservoirs of insects associated with stored food products.—Hilgardia, 16, pp. 187–224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nordberg, S. (1936). Biologisch-ökologische Untersuchungen über die Vogel-nidieolen.—Acta zool. fenn., 21, pp. 1–168.Google Scholar
Weidner, H. (1952). Die Insekten der Kulturwüste.—Mitt, hamburg. zool. Mus., 51, pp. 189–173.Google Scholar
Woodeoffe, G. E. (1950). The identity of the case-bearing clothes moth (Lep., Tineidae).—Ent. mon. Mag., 86, p. 181.Google Scholar
Woodroffe, G. E. (1951). A life-history study of the Brown House Moth, Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Staint.) (Lep. Oecophoridae).—Bull, ent. Res., 41, pp. 529–553.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Woodroffe, G. E. & Southgate, B. J. (1951 a). Birds' nests as a source of domestic pests.—Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 121, pp. 55–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Woodroffe, G. E. & Southgate, B. J. (1951 b). A common host and habitat of Apanteles carpatus Say (Hym. Braconidae) in Britain.—Ent. mon. Mag., 87, p. 171.Google Scholar
Woodroffe, G. E. & Southgate, B. J. (1952). Monopis crocicapitella (Clem.) (Lep., Tineidae) infesting felt lagging on a water pipe at Harrow, Middlesex.—Ent. mon. Mag., 88, p. 288.Google Scholar
Since this manuscript was written, DrHall, W. J. of the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology, has drawn my attention to the following recent publication:—Google Scholar
Hicks, E. A. (1953). Observations on the insect fauna of birds' nests.—J. Kans. ent. Soc, 26, pp. 11–18.Google Scholar
This paper is of no great importance, but it gives some useful references. In particular, the following two are ecological studies of nest fauna, that of Leleup (1947) being of considerable interest.Google Scholar
Heselhaus, S. J. (1915). Weitere Beiträage zur Kenntnis der Nidicolen.—Tijdschr. Ent., 58, pp. 251–274.Google Scholar
Leleup, N. (1947). Contribution à l'étude des Arthropodes nidicoles et microcavernicoles de Belgique.—Bull. Ann. Soc. ent. Belg., 83, pp. 304–343.Google Scholar