We have done preliminary research on insects living in Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) next boxes in the southeastern U.S.A. (see associated conference poster and published abstract on ResearchGate). Our findings indicate habitual use of these next boxes by particular groups of beetles that are not apparently parasitic on the birds, but co-inhabit the next cavities. Surprisingly little has been published on this general topic, which seems to be an underestimated and understudied type of animal interaction. Please share any information you have, published or unpublished, on this general topic.
Data Conn with Conn et al 2004 Insect Utilization of Bluebird Nes...
Article Utilization of bluebird nest boxes by insects at diverse sit...
See section related to oropendula nesting, wasps/bees and botflies.
http://www.anywherecostarica.com/flora-fauna/bird/chestnut-headed-oropendola
This isn't an answer, but my first thought on looking at the Bluebird poster is to wonder whether the nest associated insect community is different in nest boxes, versus natural cavities. Interesting topic.
Thanks for the great information and source, Martin. This does also raise the question about whether co-inhabiting insects might actually be beneficial to the birds in some cases.
Donna, thanks for the input. This is a good question, and if anyone knows of any research on this I hope they will contribute to this discussion thread. My preliminary searching seems to indicate that there has not been a great amount of work on this entire topic
My guess would be that the beetles live off the waste products (feces, feathers, dead chicks etc.) that inevitably builds up in a birds nest or indirectly fx. on the fungi that grows on these waste products. Some of the beetles, Carabids and Staphylinids might act as predators on other more parasitic insects like fleas and Hippoboscids. In that way they they might be beneficial.
Rufous-naped wrens and streaked-back orioles are also well known to disproportionately place their nests in bulls-thorn acacias (containing mutualistic ants) and in trees close to wasp nests. The indication is that they are better protected from predators. See this link...
http://facultyweb.berry.edu/mcipollini/Final%20Presentations/Nest%20Selection.htm
I cannot directly answer the question, but I recall one of my professors at The University of Oklahoma, Dr. Cluff E. Hopla (who I think since has passed away) had several students working on projects in the 1980s on this topic. They may all have been on parasites.
Dear Sir about the part of What insects are known to live in or associate habitually with bird nests or nest cavities;hereby some links could be advantageous for.
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/birdmit.html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/66505/bird-louse
http://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/tickid/maine-tick-species/bird-tick/
Dr. Joyce's Ph.D. thesis (1991) included a comprehensive compilation of records of nesting associations among birds and hymenopterans. You can see the reference below. Mr. Earley's M.Sc. thesis ('Wasp and bird nesting interactions with special reference to Polistes dominula', 2013) extended the list, focusing solely on associations between birds' and flying hymenopterans' (excluding ants) nests. A whole chapter of the thesis is dedicated to analysing nest-box use by wasps; this might be useful to you. I further extended the list of recorded associations before two colleagues and I recently published a note regarding this subject (below). This list was not published, but I would be happy to share with you, if it is of interest.
Article Nesting associations of birds, ants, and wasps /
Article Previously unreported nesting associations of the Yellow-oli...
There are many insects from different families of order Coleoptera. Try to find some information in google whith "nidicolous coleoptera" search request. I know many russian articles about this ecological groop of insects. Good luck and sorry for poor / bad english.
P.S. There are some examples from googlescholar. You can also try to find the open access articles on doaj.org.
http://www.zin.ru/animalia/coleoptera/pdf/negrobov-et_RES-2012.pdf
http://akademickyrepozitar.sk/sk/repozitar/arthropods-acarina-coleoptera-siphonaptera-in-nests-of-hoopoe-upupa-epops-in-central-europe.pdf
http://smtp.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/PDF/Owl_nest_beetles.pdf
http://integritas.by/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13:2012-03-04-21-09-51&catid=4:ournews&Itemid=4
https://doaj.org/
David, you can see some of the species in this reference https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/wilson/v063n04/p0363-p0369.pdf
Saber A. Riad, thank you very much for your response. Parasitic arthropods that feed on the birds are of real interest here. Other insects may feed on the birds' droppings, food refuse, and other things. The paper you referenced is very helpful. Best wishes, D.B. Conn
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