Presence of cimicid bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) on a crowded eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus) nestling: a cost of using communal monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) nests for breeding

M. Á. SANTILLÁN, D.L. CARPINTERO, M. A. GALMES AND J. H. SARASOLA.

JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH

RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

Lugar: Lawrence, Kansas; Año: 2009 p. 255 - 256

0892-1016

Ectoparasites of raptors include both blood-sucking and feather-feeding invertebrates such as lice, mites, flies, fleas, ticks and bugs (Philips 2007, Parasites In: Raptor Research and Management Techniques [D. Bird and K. Bildstein, eds] Hancock House Publishers, Blaine, WA, USA. Pp. 311-317). The effects of ectoparasite infections on host varies, from almost insignificant to serious, and sometimes causing the death of the host. Some ectoparasites are vectors of protozoan, bacteria or viruses that can cause an indirect or secondary infection of the host. Other ectoparasites, especially those with hematophagous habits, have direct effects on their host, reducing growth or survival of nestlings or affecting health condition in adults (Philips 2007). Although ectoparasite infections generally are less important than other limiting factor for raptor populations, understanding host-parasite interactions and the extent of their effects on host fitness can be of special concern for endangered raptor species with small and fragmented populations (Newton 1998, Population limitation in birds, Academic Press, CA. USA). Cimicid bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) are bloodsucking arthropods found in different groups of birds (e.g, Parrots, Swallows and Martins, Swifts, Sparrow, Domestic Fowl, Domestic Chicken and Domestic Turkey) as well as in bats and humans (Philips 1990, Widl. Rehab. 8:155-203; Carpintero and Aramburu 2007, Revista de la Sociedad Entomologica Argentina 66 (1-2): 153-156). Cimicid bugs laid their eggs in the place where host lives and both nymphal and adult stages suck blood. Cimicid bugs has been documented parasiting several diurnal and nocturnal raptors species in North America, including Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus), Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), Prairie Falcons (Falco mexicanus), Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) and Barn Owl (Tyto alba) (Grub et al. 1986, J. Wildl. Dis. 22(1): 125-127; Philips 2007). One particular Cimicid species, the Mexican Chicken Bug (Haematosiphon inodorus), have killed nestling Bald Eagles (Grub et al. 1986), Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons (Plat 1975, Willson Bull. 85:557; McFadzen and Marzluff 1996, Condor 98:791-800) and have caused premature fledging in the California Condor (Brown and Amadon 1968, Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world, Country Life Books, Feltham, UK). For the Barn Owl and the Bald Eagle, levels of nest infestation with Mexican Chicken Bugs have been reported from 1.425 to 1.778 and from 21.000 to 31.000 bugs per nest respectively (Gurbb et al. 1986). However, despite the numerous records for North America, Cimicid bugs have been not reported parasiting raptors in South America. The Crowned Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus) is one of the largest birds of prey in southern South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina (Fergunson-Lee and Christie 2001, Raptors of the world, Helm Edition, London). It is considered extinct in Uruguay where no records have been reported since 1930 (Birdlife International 2004, Threatened birds of World CD-Rom, Cambridge, UK). The species has been listed as a vulnerable species at international level but its conservation status has been recently reviewed and the Crowned Eagle is currently considered as a globally endangered species with a world population estimated in less than 1.000 individuals (Birdlife International 2004). In spite of its conservation status, the ecology of the Crowned Eagle is virtually unknown and the information about its biology is poor and mostly anecdotal. At least for central Argentina, human persecution and disturbance appear to be important threats (Sarasola and Maceda 2006, Oryx 40: 347-350). Among other unknown aspects of the eagle?s biology, there is scarce information on their parasites. Only one species of chewing lice (Degeeriella fulva: Ischocera) has been reported for Crowned Eagles (Castro and Cicchino 1998, in Biodiversidad de artrópodos argentinos, J.J. Morrone and S. Cascaron [Eds.]. Ediciones del Sur, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pp. 104-124) and mites of genus Temnalges (Acarina) have been reported for the second species in the genus, the Solitary eagle (Harpyhaliaetus solitarius) (Philips 2000, J. of Raptor Res. 34(3):210-231). Here we report a Cimicid Bug species typical found in parakeet nests in a nestling Crowned Eagles (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus) from the Monte Desert region of Argentina (austral range distribution). We also discuss the plausible infection mechanisms on the light of the observed association between Crowned Eagles and Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus). From January to March 2008 (austral summer), and as part of an ongoing study on the breeding biology of Crowned Eagles in central Argentina, we measured and banded four Crowned Eagles nestling in four nest located in two different habitats in La Pampa province: semiarid forest of Caldén tree (Prosopis caldenia) and the Monte Desert biome (Cabrera 1994, Regiones Fitogeográficas Argentinas. Enciclopedia Argentina de Agricultura y Jardinería, Primera Reimpresión, Tomo II, Fascículo I, Editorial Acme, Buenos Aires, Argentina). During inspection and banding of one of the nestling in a nest in Limay Mahuida department, western La Pampa province, we visually detected the presence of ectoparasites on its body. We collected four of more than one hundred ectoparasites observed on feathers and skin of different parts of the eagle. The nestling was in a nest built above a Monk-Parakeet nest on the top of an ca. 18 m. high Eucalyptus sp. surrounded by the typical shrubs landscape of the Monte Desert biome. After collected, the ectoparasites were stored in 70% ethyl alcohol and then slide-mounted in synthetic Canada Balsam following conventional procedures. Ectoparasites were identified using stereo and ocular microscope, checklist, taxonomic keys and collections of reference of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ?Bernardino Rivadavia?, Buenos Aires. All the ectoparasites collected belong to the same species Psitticimex uritui (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) and were identified as nymphs. This Cimicid Bug species has been previously reported for Psittacide birds (Turienzo and Diorio 2005, Zootaxa 1561:1-52) and is particularly common for the Monk Parakeet (Spreyer and Bucher 1998, in A. Poole and F. Gill [EDS.], The Birds of North America, No. 322, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, DC U.S.A.). The Crowned Eagle nest in which ectoparasites were collected was the only of the four monitored during the 2008 breeding season that was constructed above of a Monk Parakeet nest and it was also the only in which ectoparasites were recorded for eagle nestlings. The most likely explanation for these differences on the occurrence of cimicid bugs among different nest sites would be an active migration of ectoparasites from the parakeet nest, where cimicid bugs parasite their most common host, to that new and occasional host represented by the nestling eagle. Although the use of Monk Parakeet nests by the Crowned Eagle as a platform on which to sustain their own nest has been reported previously (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol II: New World vultures to guineafowls, Lynx editions, Barcelona, Spain) there are not previous record of parasites associates with Monk Parakeets occurring also in Crowed Eagles. However, because both Monk Parakeets and Crowned Eagles are native species in the Monte Desert biome of central Argentina, the association between parakeets and eagles and their parasites is probably common. Moreover, the same mechanism of transmission of ectoparasites from Monk Parakeets to Crowned Eagles that we suggest here has been previously hypothesized by Turienzo and Di Orio (2007). Although without empirical data, these authors advise that different species of birds of prey that also use Monk Parakeet nest to breed, such as Great Black Hawks (Buteogallus urubitinga), Black-collared Hawks (Busarellus nigricollis), Black-Chested Buzzard-Eagles (Geranoaetus melanoleucus), Savanna Hawk (Heterospizias meridionalis), Crested Caracaras (Caracara plancus), Chimango Caracaras (Milvago chimango), Spot-Winged Falconets (Spiziapteryx circumcinctus), American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), Tropical Screech-Owl (Otus choliba), and Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), could be susceptible of infestation by hematophagous ectoparasites usually found at Monk Parakeet communal nests. Due to the potential effects of parasite infection on breeding performance and productivity of birds of prey species, we believe that it is important to gain additional knowledge on the mechanisms and dynamics of parasite transmission between parakeets and other raptor species as well as on the effects of parasite infection on demography of hosts. This is particularly true for the Crowned Eagle on the light of its current conservation status and the suspected low productivity of the species. The Crowned Eagle seems to lay only one egg per breeding attempt and it is thought that the dependence period of young eagles after they leave the nest could be so long (Fergunson-Lee and Christie 2001) that it forces adult eagles to breed only once every two years. These reproductive traits of Crowned Eagles could make the effects of nestling mortality by ectoparasite infestation more severe for their populations than for any other raptor species using Monk parakeet for breeding. We are grateful to the rural workers and landowners of La Pampa province for kindly sharing their knowledge about Crowned Eagles. We especially thank Vicente Urquiza and his family for the logistic support and Armando Cicchino for his charismatic help and motivation. We also thank Agustin Lanusse for field assistance and Sole Liebana and Keith Bildstein for provided criticisms and help in early version of this manuscripts. This study was supported by the grant PI R014 from the Departamento de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa.