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@AOL.COM

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