Do secretions from the uropygial gland of birds attract biting midges and black flies?

Puente, Josué Martínez‐de la; Aguilar, Juan Rivero de; Cerro, Sara del; Argüello, A.; Merino, Santiago

doi:10.1007/s00436-011-2436-y

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…The function of the uropygial secretions has mainly been framed as preventing feather degradation due not only to microorganisms (see ), but also to environmental conditions and physical abrasion (Moreno‐Rueda, 2011). It has also been suggested that uropygial secretions may attract blood‐suckling insects (Martinez‐de La Puente et al. , 2011) and/or favour symbiotic mites that feed on uropygial secretions smeared on feathers (Galván et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of size of the uropygial gland: mutualistic feather mites and uropygial secretion reduce bacterial loads of eggshells and hatching failures of European birds

Soler

Peralta‐Sánchez

Martín‐Platero

et al. 2012

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Potentially, pathogenic bacteria are one of the main infective agents against which a battery of chemical and physical barriers has evolved in animals. Among these are the secretions by the exocrine uropygial gland in birds. The antimicrobial properties of uropygial secretions may prevent colonization and growth of microorganisms on feathers, skin and eggshells. However, uropygial gland secretions also favour the proliferation of feather mites that feed on secretions and microorganisms living on feathers that would otherwise reach eggshells during incubation if not consumed by feather mites. Therefore, at the interspecific level, uropygial gland size (as an index of volume of uropygial secretion) should be positively related to eggshell bacterial load (i.e. the risk of egg infection), whereas eggshell bacterial loads may be negatively related to abundance of feather mites eating bacteria. Here, we explore these previously untested predictions in a comparative framework using information on eggshell bacterial loads, uropygial gland size, diversity and abundance of feather mites and hatching success of 22 species of birds. The size of the uropygial gland was positively related to eggshell bacterial loads (mesophilic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae), and bird species with higher diversity and abundance of feather mites harboured lower bacterial density on their eggshells (Enterococcus and Staphylococcus), in accordance with the hypothesis. Importantly, eggshell bacterial loads of mesophilic bacteria, Enterococcus and Enterobacteriaceae were negatively associated with hatching success, allowing us to interpret these interspecific relationships in a functional scenario, where both uropygial glands and mutualistic feather mites independently reduce the negative effects of pathogenic bacteria on avian fitness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of size of the uropygial gland: mutualistic feather mites and uropygial secretion reduce bacterial loads of eggshells and hatching failures of European birds

Soler

Peralta‐Sánchez

Martín‐Platero

et al. 2012

J of Evolutionary Biology

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“…If S. annulus is attracted to uropygial secretions of whooping cranes, we failed to detect it. Similarly, nest boxes baited with uropygial secretions of blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus ) and carbon dioxide traps baited with uropygial secretions of feral pigeons ( Columbia livia ) did not increase black fly numbers over controls in Spain (Martinez‐de la Puente et al 2011). However, uropygial secretions of common loons are powerful attractants for S. annulus (Fallis and Smith 1964), although the oils do not evoke a landing response (Smith 3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Development and evaluation of methods to assess populations of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) at nests of the endangered whooping crane (Grus americana)

King

Adler²

2012

Journal of Vector Ecology

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Hematophagous insects can negatively affect the reproductive success of their vertebrate hosts. To determine the influence of hematophagous insects on endangered vertebrates requires specially designed programs that minimize disturbance to the hosts and address problems associated with their small populations. We developed and evaluated a surveillance program for black flies potentially affecting a population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) introduced to central Wisconsin, U.S.A. In one of the few studies to survey host-seeking female black flies and their immature stages concurrently, we processed nearly 346,000 specimens and documented 26 species, of which only two, Simulium annulus and Simulium johannseni, were attracted to nesting whooping cranes. Attempts to assess black fly populations with artificial nests and real crane eggs were unsuccessful. Carbon-dioxide traps performed well in describing black fly taxa on the landscape. However, the number of black flies at whooping crane nests was consistently higher than the number captured in carbon-dioxide traps. The carbon-dioxide traps poorly described the presence/absence, population fluctuations, and periodicity of black flies at whooping crane nests. The weak performance of the carbon-dioxide traps might have resulted from microhabitat differences between trap locations and nests or from Simulium annulus and Simulium johannseni using sensory cues in addition to carbon dioxide to find hosts. Choice of trapping techniques, therefore, depends on the information required for the particular study objectives. Journal of Vector Ecology 37 (2): 298-306. 2012.

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“…Several studies have found that uropygial secretion attracts mosquitoes (Russell and Hunter, 2005;Garvin et al, 2018b) and blackflies (Fallis and Smith, 1964;Lowther and Wood, 1964;Bennett et al, 1972), either alone or in combination with other stimuli. However, other studies have failed to find any attractant effect (Martínez-de la Puente et al, 2011b;Garvin et al, 2018a;Díez-Fernández et al, 2019 or have found attraction to the secretion only in certain bird or mosquito species, while not in other bird (Garvin et al, 2018b) or mosquito species (Russell and Hunter, 2005). On the other hand, it has even been suggested that uropygial secretion may confer protection against ectoparasites such as lice (Moyer et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Chemical and Auditory Cues of Hoopoes (Upupa epops) in Repellence and Attraction of Blood-Feeding Flies

et al. 2020

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Research on the mechanisms involved in host location by parasites is of paramount importance and may aid in developing protective measures against them. This topic attains far-reaching repercussions for human and animal welfare regarding parasites transmitting vector-borne pathogens, such as blood-feeding flies. Very few studies have evaluated the effect of bird-derived cues on attraction of vectors in field conditions. We here explored the attraction of different groups of blood-feeding flies (mosquitoes, blackflies and biting midges) to auditory cues produced by begging hoopoe (Upupa epops) nestlings, and to three chemical cues derived from hoopoe nestlings or nests (uropygial secretion, symbiotic bacteria isolated from the secretion, and nest material) in the field. We deployed insect traps baited with the different stimuli at the beginning and at the end of the hoopoe breeding-season in four different habitats. Abundance of blood-feeding flies varied depending on habitat and sampling period. Begging auditory cues of nestling hoopoes did not affect abundance of flies. However, chemical stimuli affected abundance of mosquitoes, which were less abundant in traps baited with bacteria or with nest material than in control traps. Abundance of biting midges in traps also depended on the chemical stimulus but in interaction with sampling period or habitat. Fewer biting midges were collected in traps baited with bacteria and with secretion in the habitats where abundance of biting midges is higher. Our results suggest that uropygial secretion of hoopoes, and symbiotic bacteria living in this secretion, may repel blood-feeding flies from their nests.

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Do secretions from the uropygial gland of birds attract biting midges and black flies?

Cited by 16 publications

References 24 publications

The evolution of size of the uropygial gland: mutualistic feather mites and uropygial secretion reduce bacterial loads of eggshells and hatching failures of European birds

The evolution of size of the uropygial gland: mutualistic feather mites and uropygial secretion reduce bacterial loads of eggshells and hatching failures of European birds

Development and evaluation of methods to assess populations of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) at nests of the endangered whooping crane (Grus americana)

Effects of Chemical and Auditory Cues of Hoopoes (Upupa epops) in Repellence and Attraction of Blood-Feeding Flies

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