Atypical behavior of a black fly species connects cavity-nesting birds with generalist blood parasites in an arid area of Spain

Abstract Background The feeding behavior of bloodsucking insects determines the transmission, distribution, host spectrum and evolution of blood parasites in the wild. Conventional wisdom suggests that some vector groups (e.g. black flies, family Simuliidae) are consistently exophagous daytime biters. We aimed to understand more about the exceptions to this pattern by combining targeted trapping and molecular identification of parasites in vectors. Methods In this study, we collected black flies in nest boxes used by European rollers Coracias garrulus in southeastern Spain. We molecularly analyzed 434 individual insects, identifying the black fly species caught in the nest boxes, their potential vertebrate blood meals, and the haemosporidian parasite lineages that they carried. Results Only one black fly species, Simulium rubzovianum, appeared to enter the nest boxes of rollers. Among the trapped specimens, 15% contained vertebrate DNA, which always belonged to rollers, even though only half of those specimens were visibly engorged. Furthermore, 15% of all black flies contained Leucocytozoon lineages, indicating previous feeding on avian hosts but probably not on infected adult rollers. The known vertebrate hosts of the recorded Leucocytozoon lineages suggested that large and/or abundant birds are their hosts. Particularly represented were cavity-nesting species breeding in the vicinity, such as pigeons, corvids and owls. Open-nesting species such as thrushes and birds of prey were also represented. Conclusions Our data strongly suggest that S. rubzovianum bites uninfected roller nestlings and infected individuals of other species, potentially incubating adults, inside nest boxes and natural cavities. This simuliid does not appear to have a strong preference for specific host clades. Contrary to the general pattern for the group, and possibly enhanced by the harsh environmental conditions in the study area, this black fly appeared to intensively use and may even have a preference for confined spaces such as cavities for feeding and resting. Preferences of vectors for atypical microhabitat niches where hosts are less mobile may enable social and within-family transmission and parasite speciation in the long term. At the same time, a lack of host preference in concentrated multispecies communities can lead to host switches. Both processes may be underappreciated driving forces in the evolution of avian blood parasites. Graphical abstract

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Blood parasites in vectors reveal a united blackfly community in the upper canopy

10.21203/rs.2.22636/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nayden Chakarov ◽

Helge Kampen ◽

Anja Wiegmann ◽

Doreen Werner ◽

Staffan Bensch

Keyword(s):

Forest Canopy ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Blood Parasites ◽

Avian Host ◽

Haemosporidian Parasite ◽

Host Group ◽

Haemosporidian Parasites ◽

Blood Sucking ◽

In The Wild ◽

Host Parasite

Abstract Background: The behaviour of blood-sucking arthropods is a crucial determinant of blood protozoan distribution and hence of host-parasite coevolution, but it is very challenging to study in the wild. The molecular identification of parasite lineages in vectors can be a useful key to understand the behaviour and transmission patterns realised by these vectors. Methods: In this study, we collected blackflies around nests of three raptor species in the upper forest canopy in central Europe and examined the presence of vertebrate DNA and haemosporidian parasites in them. We molecularly analysed 156 blackfly individuals, their vertebrate blood meals, and the haemosporidian parasite lineages they carried. Results: We identified nine species of Simulium blackflies, largely belonging to the subgenera Nevermannia and Eusimulium. Only 1% of the collected specimens was visibly engorged, and only 4% contained remains of host DNA. However, in 29% of the blackflies Leucocytozoon lineages were identified, which is evidence of a previous blood meal on an avian host. Based on the known vertebrate hosts of the recorded Leucocytozoon lineages, we can infer that large and/or abundant birds, such as thrushes, crows, pigeons, birds of prey, owls and tits are the main targets of ornithophilic blackflies in the canopy. Blackfly species contained similar proportions of host group-specific parasite lineages and thus do not appear to be associated with particular host groups. Conclusions: The Leucocytozoon clade infecting thrushes, crows, and pigeons present in most represented blackfly species suggests a lack of association between hosts and blackflies, which can increase the probability of host switches of blood parasites. However, the composition of the simuliid species differed between nests of common buzzards, goshawks and red kites. This segregation can be explained by coinciding habitat preferences between host and vector, and may lead to the fast speciation of Leucocytozoon parasites. Thus, subtle ecological preferences and lack of host preference of vectors in the canopy may enable both parasite diversification and host switches, and enforce a habitat-dependent evolution of avian malaria parasites and related haemosporidia.

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Nest decoration: birds exploit a fear of feathers to guard their nest from usurpation

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.211579 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Tore Slagsvold ◽

Karen L. Wiebe

Keyword(s):

Tree Swallow ◽

The Novel ◽

Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽

Nest Box ◽

Structural Support ◽

Nest Boxes ◽

Cavity Nesting ◽

In The Wild ◽

Nest Usurpation ◽

Nest Materials

Many species of birds incorporate feathers into their nest as structural support and to insulate the eggs or offspring. Here, we investigated the novel idea that birds reduce the risk of nest usurpation by decorating it with feathers to trigger a fear response in their rivals. We let prospecting birds choose between a dyad of nest-boxes in the wild, both containing some nest materials, but where one had a few white feathers and the other had none. All three species of cavity-nesting birds studied, the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca , the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus , and the tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor , hesitated to enter boxes with white feathers. A similar avoidance of white feathers was found when the alternative nest-box of a dyad held black feathers. However, the birds readily collected white feathers that we placed in front of their nest-box, showing the fear of such feathers was context-dependent. We suggest that naive prospecting birds may perceive feathers in nests as the result of a predation event, and that owners decorate nests with bright feathers that can be seen from the opening to deter others from entering.

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Blood parasites in vectors reveal a united blackfly community in the upper canopy

10.21203/rs.2.22636/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nayden Chakarov ◽

Helge Kampen ◽

Oliver Krüger ◽

Anja Wiegmann ◽

Doreen Werner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Canopy ◽

Host Preference ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Blood Parasites ◽

Avian Host ◽

Haemosporidian Parasite ◽

Host Group ◽

Blood Sucking ◽

In The Wild ◽

Host Parasite

Abstract BackgroundThe behaviour of blood-sucking arthropods is a crucial determinant of blood protozoan distribution and hence host-parasite coevolution but is very challenging to study in the wild. The molecular identification of parasite lineages in vectors can be a useful key to understand the behaviour and transmission patterns realised by these vectors. MethodsIn this study, we collected blackflies around nests of three raptor species in the upper forest canopy in Central Europe and examined their load of vertebrate DNA and haemosporidian parasites. We molecularly analysed 156 blackfly individuals, their vertebrate meals, and the haemosporidian parasite lineages they carried. ResultsWe identified eight species of Simulium blackflies, largely belonging to the subgenera Nevermannia and Eusimulium. Only 1% of the collected specimens was visibly engorged, and only 4% contained remains of host DNA. However, in 29% of the blackflies Leucocytozoon-lineages were identified, suggesting a previous blood meal on an avian host. Based on the known vertebrate hosts of the represented Leucocytozoon-lineages, we found that large and/or abundant birds, such as thrushes, crows, pigeons, birds of prey, owls and tits are the main targets of ornithophilic blackflies in the canopy. Blackfly species contained similar proportions of host group-specific parasite lineages and thus do not appear to prefer particular host groups. ConclusionsThe lack of host preference by blackflies vectors can lead to common host switches of blood parasites, as becomes apparent in the Leucocytozoon clade infecting thrushes, crows, and pigeons. However, the abundance of simuliid species differed between nests of common buzzards, goshawks and red kites. This segregation can be explained by coinciding habitat preferences between host and vector, and may lead to the fast speciation of Leucocytozoon parasites. Thus, subtle ecological preferences and lack of host preference of vectors in the canopy may enable both parasite diversification and host switches, and enforce a habitat-dependent evolution of avian malaria parasites and related haemosporidia.

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Shattering the folklore: black flies do not pollinate sweet lowbush blueberry

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z00-133 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 78 (11) ◽

pp. 2051-2054 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Fiona F Hunter ◽

Steven G Burgin ◽

Allan Woodhouse

Keyword(s):

Fruit Set ◽

Canadian Shield ◽

Black Flies ◽

Vaccinium Angustifolium ◽

Black Fly ◽

Chamaedaphne Calyculata ◽

Lowbush Blueberry ◽

In The Wild

It is often said that on the Canadian Shield, black flies pollinate the sweet lowbush blueberry, because years with high black fly populations also tend to be those with large blueberry crops. This folklore has never been tested experimentally. Here we report on research designed to test whether or not black flies can act as pollinators for two species of ericaceous plants, sweet lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) and leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata). In enclosures, black flies may assist in leatherleaf pollination but there is no evidence that they increase fruit set in sweet lowbush blueberry. However, we do not exclude the possibility that in the wild, they act as opportunistic nectar thieves of sweet lowbush blueberry.

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Blood parasites in vectors reveal a united blackfly community in the upper canopy

10.21203/rs.2.22636/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nayden Chakarov ◽

Helge Kampen ◽

Anja Wiegmann ◽

Doreen Werner ◽

Staffan Bensch

Keyword(s):

Forest Canopy ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Blood Parasites ◽

Avian Host ◽

Haemosporidian Parasite ◽

Host Group ◽

Haemosporidian Parasites ◽

Blood Sucking ◽

In The Wild ◽

Host Parasite

Abstract Background The behaviour of blood-sucking arthropods is a crucial determinant of blood protozoan distribution and hence of host-parasite coevolution, but it is very challenging to study in the wild. The molecular identification of parasite lineages in vectors can be a useful key to understand the behaviour and transmission patterns realised by these vectors. Methods In this study, we collected blackflies around nests of three raptor species in the upper forest canopy in Central Europe and examined the presence of vertebrate DNA and haemosporidian parasites in them. We molecularly analysed 156 blackfly individuals, their vertebrate blood meals, and the haemosporidian parasite lineages they carried. Results We identified nine species of Simulium blackflies, largely belonging to the subgenera Nevermannia and Eusimulium. Only 1% of the collected specimens was visibly engorged, and only 4% contained remains of host DNA. However, in 29% of the blackflies Leucocytozoon-lineages were identified, which is evidence of a previous blood meal on an avian host. Based on the known vertebrate hosts of the recorded Leucocytozoon-lineages, we can infer that large and/or abundant birds, such as thrushes, crows, pigeons, birds of prey, owls and tits are the main targets of ornithophilic blackflies in the canopy. Blackfly species contained similar proportions of host group-specific parasite lineages and thus do not appear to be associated with particular host groups. Conclusions The Leucocytozoon clade infecting thrushes, crows, and pigeons present in most represented blackfly species suggests a lack of association between hosts and blackflies, which can increase the probability of host switches of blood parasites. However, the composition of simuliid species differed between nests of common buzzards, goshawks and red kites. This segregation can be explained by coinciding habitat preferences between host and vector, and may lead to the fast speciation of Leucocytozoon parasites. Thus, subtle ecological preferences and lack of host preference of vectors in the canopy may enable both parasite diversification and host switches, and enforce a habitat-dependent evolution of avian malaria parasites and related haemosporidia.

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Possible Epigenetic Origin of a Recurrent Gynandromorph Pattern in Megachile Wild Bees

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12050437 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 437

Author(s):

Daniele Sommaggio ◽

Giuseppe Fusco ◽

Marco Uliana ◽

Alessandro Minelli

Keyword(s):

Current Knowledge ◽

Sex Differentiation ◽

General Pattern ◽

Body Parts ◽

Wild Bees ◽

Male And Female ◽

Female Phenotype ◽

In The Wild ◽

Gene Transcripts ◽

Individual Body

Gynandromorphs, i.e., individuals with a mix of male and female traits, are common in the wild bees of the genus Megachile (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). We described new transverse gynandromorphs in Megachile pilidens Alfkeen, 1924 and analyze the spatial distribution of body parts with male vs. female phenotype hitherto recorded in the transverse gynandromorphs of the genus Megachile. We identified 10 different arrangements, nine of which are minor variants of a very general pattern, with a combination of male and female traits largely shared by the gynandromorphs recorded in 20 out of 21 Megachile species in our dataset. Based on the recurrence of the same gynandromorph pattern, the current knowledge on sex determination and sex differentiation in the honey bee, and the results of recent gene-knockdown experiments in these insects, we suggest that these composite phenotypes are possibly epigenetic, rather than genetic, mosaics, with individual body parts of either male or female phenotype according to the locally expressed product of the alternative splicing of sex-determining gene transcripts.

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Reintroduction of the Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba) in Northern Brazil: Establishing a Population in a Protected Area

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13050198 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 198

Author(s):

Marcelo Rodrigues Vilarta ◽

William Wittkoff ◽

Crisomar Lobato ◽

Rubens de Aquino Oliveira ◽

Nívia Gláucia Pinto Pereira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Power Lines ◽

Food Supplementation ◽

Territorial Disputes ◽

Amazon Forest ◽

Nest Boxes ◽

In Captivity ◽

Viable Population ◽

In The Wild ◽

Northern Brazil ◽

Native Foods

Brazil has the highest number of parrots in the world and the greatest number of threatened species. The Golden Conure is endemic to the Brazilian Amazon forest and it is currently considered as threatened by extinction, although it is fairly common in captivity. Here we report the first reintroduction of this species. The birds were released in an urban park in Belem, capital of Para State, where the species was extinct more than a century ago. Birds were trained to recognize and consume local food and to avoid predators. After the soft-release, with food supplementation and using nest boxes, we recorded breeding activity in the wild. The main challenges before the release were the territorial disputes within the aviary and the predation by boa snakes. During the post-release monitoring the difficulties were the fast dispersion of some individuals and the dangers posed by anthropic elements such as power lines that caused some fatalities. Released birds were very successful at finding and consuming native foods, evading predators, and one pair reproduced successfully. Monitoring continues and further releases are programmed to establish an ecologically viable population.

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ECOLOGY OF BLACK FLIES (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE) OF THE SOURIS RIVER, MANITOBA AS A BASIS FOR CONTROL STRATEGY

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent113223-3 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 113 (3) ◽

pp. 223-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. R. Westwood ◽

R. A. Brust

Keyword(s):

Control Program ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Pest Species ◽

Black Flies ◽

Black Fly ◽

Simulium Vittatum ◽

Late Instar ◽

Simulium Decorum ◽

Fly Control ◽

Wire Cage

AbstractTen species of black flies were collected from the Souris River, Manitoba between April 1977 and October 1978. Adults of Simulium luggeri Nicholson and Mickel, Simulium meridionale Riley, Simulium venustum Say, Simulium verecundum Stone and Jamnback, and Simulium johannseni johannseni (Hart) were collected feeding on livestock and humans, and are well known pest species. Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt was the most abundant species, but was not a pest on man or domestic animals. Simulium tuberosum (Lundström) and Simulium johannseni duplex Shewell and Fredeen were the least abundant species. Simulium j. johannseni, S. j. duplex, S. venustum, S. verecundum, S. tuberosum, and Cnephia dacotensis (Dyar and Shannon) appeared to be univoltine species while S. luggeri, S. meridionale, Simulium decorum Walker, and S. vittatum were multivoltine in the Souris River.An evaluation of cone, plate, rope, and wire cage sampling devices for black fly larvae and pupae indicated that cone samplers provided a more representative sample for population assessment.In a black fly control program, of the Souris River, Manitoba two separate larvicide treatments in spring may be necessary. In the case of two treatments, the first should be aimed at late instar larvae of S. j. johannseni, S. venustum, and S. verecundum. Since the majority of S. luggeri and S. meridionale would be in the egg stage at this time, a second treatment, 10–14 days later, would be necessary to control late instar larvae of these species.

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Evaluation of Partially Submerged Sticky Traps On Lake Spillways For Adult Black Fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) Surveillance and Arbovirus Detection

Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association ◽

10.2987/18-6792.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 306-310

Author(s):

Michael C. Cavallaro ◽

Eric Risley ◽

Paige Lockburner

Keyword(s):

Adult Female ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Black Flies ◽

Culex Mosquito ◽

Sticky Traps ◽

Black Fly ◽

Equine Encephalitis Virus ◽

Simulium Decorum ◽

Average Standard Error

ABSTRACT Sentinel surveillance systems demonstrate an improved ability to supplement monitoring data and anticipate arbovirus outbreaks (i.e., sentinel avian species). Management complications can arise during unpredictable or unseasonal disease detections, especially in rural areas where resident distribution is patchy. Using spillways near residential lake communities as static surveillance locations, we tested a novel partially submerged sticky trapping technique and screened wild populations of adult female black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) for West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV). Trap site selection criteria considered the density of immature black fly colonization on spillway surfaces and the number of positive detections of arboviral targets in nearby Culex mosquito populations. On average (±standard error), sticky traps captured 134 (±33) adult black flies over a 24-h period, with 1 trap capturing as many as 735 individuals. Although we detected positive cases of WNV from 20 Culex mosquito trapping sites within 16 km (approx. flight radius) of the selected lake spillways, mixed pools of adult female Simulium vittatum complex and Simulium decorum were all negative for both arboviruses. This study yielded an application for partially submerged sticky traps to collect adult female black flies. Its potential uses for monitoring the infection rates of more well-documented Simulium parasites are discussed.

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Surveillance along the Rio Grande during the 2020 Vesicular Stomatitis Outbreak Reveals Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of and Viral RNA Detection in Black Flies

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10101264 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1264

Author(s):

Katherine I. Young ◽

Federico Valdez ◽

Christina Vaquera ◽

Carlos Campos ◽

Lawrence Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Black Flies ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Black Fly ◽

The Usa ◽

Vesicular Stomatitis

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) emerges periodically from its focus of endemic transmission in southern Mexico to cause epizootics in livestock in the US. The ecology of VSV involves a diverse, but largely undefined, repertoire of potential reservoir hosts and invertebrate vectors. As part of a larger program to decipher VSV transmission, we conducted a study of the spatiotemporal dynamics of Simulium black flies, a known vector of VSV, along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico, USA from March to December 2020. Serendipitously, the index case of VSV-Indiana (VSIV) in the USA in 2020 occurred at a central point of our study. Black flies appeared soon after the release of the Rio Grande’s water from an upstream dam in March 2020. Two-month and one-year lagged precipitation, maximum temperature, and vegetation greenness, measured as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), were associated with increased black fly abundance. We detected VSIV RNA in 11 pools comprising five black fly species using rRT-PCR; five pools yielded a VSIV sequence. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of VSV in the western US from vectors that were not collected on premises with infected domestic animals.

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