Harry Schmeider   "The Ambassador for the Bluebirds"
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Parasites and Blowfly Larva Solution 

3/18/2013

36 Comments

 
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Dealing with nest parasites;
At least 2500 species of mites from 40 families are closely associated with birds, occupying all conceivable habitats in the nests and on the bodies of their hosts. No avian is free from a mite. Bird mites can be divided into those that dwell primarily in, or near, the nest and those that reside mainly on the body of the host. The best studied nest-dwelling mites are blood feeders from the genera Dermanyssus and Ornithonyssus (shown here is a micrograph of a female Ornithonyssus bursa, a common nest parasite of passerines. These mites have short generation times and can rapidly build-up huge populations. For example, half a million northern fowl mites have been extracted from a single nest. Blood-feeding nest mites can reduce the reproductive success of their hosts by slowing development or even killing chicks.


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Blowfly Larva is a problem for all cavity nesting species.
Blow fly biology varies among the 1100 species and with environmental conditions so the following information is general.
Each female blow fly deposits thousands of eggs over her 2- to 8-week life span. Egg masses may consist of 1500 to 2,000 eggs, but the larger masses are usually the result of several females depositing eggs at the same location. Hatching usually occurs in less than 24 hours when conditions are warm and humid.The larvae feed by night and move downward into the nesting material during the day. This fascinating adaptation has, no doubt, evolved over many centuries of a close association of blowflies with cavity nesting birds. The larva avoids being eaten by the adult bird during the day, and feeds only after dark, when the helpless nestlings are easy prey.
Blood is usually drawn from the feet or legs, often from between the toes. Depending on the temperature maggots usually complete development in 4 days. At the end of this period, larvae typically burrow in the nesting material and pupate for 5 to 7 days which the adult flies emerge. About a week later, females begin to deposit eggs and the life cycle is repeated. Blow flies usually develop from egg to adult in only 10 to 25 days and complete 4 to 8 generations each year.
Read more about the Blowfly at  
http://www.no-pest.com/Blowfly.htm


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Small infestation will weaken the immune system of the nestlings. Large infestation will result in death of the nestlings shown above. This is another reason landlords should closely monitor their nest boxes. Do not be afraid to handle the nestlings and inspect them weekly especially during hot humid weather. If infested gently remove the larva from the nestlings, if necessary remove the nest and make another nest for the nestlings. Birds will not harm or leave their baby nestlings because you handle them. All song birds have a very poor sense of smell anyways.
There's a product I use to kill parasitic and blowfly larva that is not harmful to you or the nestlings. ​Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth - Organic Crawling Insect Killer. With all the concerns about pesticides today - you can rest assured that Diatomaceous Earth is safe & effective. Made from the finely ground fossils of prehistoric fresh water diatoms. Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) kills common household and garden pests like roaches, ants, fleas, beetles and many others. It is a long lasting control — sprinkles easily into cracks and crevices where bugs hide and wipes them out!
When soft-bodied insects come in contact, D.E. causes massive loss of body fluids and death. When the dust is eaten by insects, the D.E. inhibits breathing, digestion and reproduction. Because it kills by mechanical action rather than poison, insects have not developed immunity. Apply the dust lightly in infested areas.  You can find this product in most lawn and garden areas in your local stores. 

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Tip; Use a plastic mustard (pull up cap) bottle and squeeze a small amount of the power (D.E.) into the middle of the nest. It’s an easy way to control parasites and blowfly larva in the nest box. You can purchase this product most anywhere. For as little as $7.00 a 1.5lb box will last you a long time. I like it because its environmentally safe.

36 Comments
June
5/28/2013 02:33:15 am

I am so glad I found your Web site. I just discovered 4 baby bluebirds dead in the nest this morning. I pulled all of it out and found the blowfly larva which I killed(wish I had checked here first. now I know I can let the adult birds eat them) I will deffinitely look for the D.E. dust. I cleaned out the box and have noticed the male bluebird checking it out again....thank you so much for the info...JR

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harry schmeider link
8/7/2013 11:00:56 am

Hi June,
Glad my site provided some help to you. Been on vacation and catching up on my emails
Happy Bluebirding to you.

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Nicole Parker link
5/16/2015 12:04:48 am

hi- Can you use the DE while the bluebird nestlings are still in the nest? Thanks so much!

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The Ambassador
8/5/2015 04:16:27 pm

Yes, Squeeze DE into the middle of the nest.

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Betty Lusby
6/23/2015 05:41:04 am

when it is hot and humid here in Cass County Missouri, could we use D.E. In the nests as a preventive measure?

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Ambassador Response
8/5/2015 04:20:33 pm

Yes. Always squeeze some D.E. in the middle of the nest.

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Martin Guy
6/27/2015 12:07:16 am

Harry many studies on DE and purple martin nest have shown DE to be in-effective against blowfly larva. Do you have any data showing this work? Thanks John

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Ambassador's Response
8/5/2015 04:37:54 pm

Hi John, I have used D.E.in my bluebird boxes and have great success.
Try it with your Purple Martins and let me know if it worked for you. Try placing the D.E. under the nest and in the middle of the nest too.

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Cindy Damrow
7/5/2015 12:22:39 am

Thank you for this safe and easy solution! We have had periodic blowfly infestation of our barn swallow nests in our barn. I will apply D.E. to all nests!

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Jo Ann Wilkinson
7/25/2015 05:51:50 am

I'm also glad I found your website. I have 3 baby bluebirds I'm watching via a bird-cam I got as a gift. Before going to bed one night, I was watching and saw two worms, wriggling. I have never seen anything like this, and wasn't sure I wasn't imagining this.
I then read about blowfly and saw that the worms come out at night.
I was able to remove babies and nest, make a new one, and powder the nest, rather easily. I made nest in strawb. basket with new dried grass, and all is well!
Thank you!

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Ambassador's Response
8/5/2015 04:26:25 pm

Jo Ann, You are an awesome Landlord to your bluebirds!!

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michele Dascenzo
2/12/2016 05:45:18 pm

I wondered if you have ever tried the screens in the box. and do they work well?

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Ambassador's Response
4/11/2016 04:35:28 pm

It works if the fly lays her eggs under the screen, but I have experience the fly laying her eggs between the nest-box and the nest above the screen.

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Judy G. Martin
5/9/2016 04:43:03 pm

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Savannah link
6/6/2016 07:20:20 am

I have a baby bird with blowfly worms in his ear. How do I get it out?!

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Ambassador's Responce link
2/25/2017 04:50:41 pm

Grab it gently and wiggle it out. it will pull out. Or use a tweezers and gently wiggle it out.If necessary use a dropper with alcohol and drop a couple of drops on it, it will back out itself.

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Gary
7/5/2016 06:11:33 pm

Have 2 bluebird eggs in house after 2 days. Will be trying the powder

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Gary
7/19/2016 12:09:17 pm

Day 12 of incubation, babies any day now. Have 4 eggs

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Ambassador Responce
6/5/2019 03:15:33 pm

Thank you for sharing.

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Dave Duit
4/21/2017 11:27:32 am

Once DE goes air borne in a nest it will enter the lungs of the birds, especially the babies and cause lung irritation and respiritory problems. Bottom line is, "Don't use DE for parasitic control in any bird nest"

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Rama
7/3/2017 07:31:52 pm

If the DE powder is squirted into the nesting material long before the eggs have hatched, and especially when the female bird is away from the nest for a few hours (during day time), the DE dust will settle down, and eliminates the respiratory problems.

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Ambassador Response
6/5/2019 03:24:17 pm

DE will not go air-borne if placed in the middle of the nest. And DE will not cause respiratory problems. Use the Food Grade DE.

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Rama
7/3/2017 11:16:46 am

Harry,

I am most grateful for posting this information about managing blowfly infestation using Diatomaceous Earth ! In early Spring, my Bitrdhouse in the backyard had a brood of three dead Bluebird chicks, all infested with blowflies. It was heart breaking ! Then i came across your post while searching for solutions. I bought a bottle of Diatomaceous Earth from Lowe's hardware store, cleaned up the birdhouse, and waited for the Bluebirds to nest again. Luckily, indeed the a new Bluebird couple occupied it, and laid a few eggs. After seeing the eggs, i squirted the Diatomaceous Earth into the nesting material like you suggested. I am very happy to report that yesterday I had seen all the chicks (3 of them) graduate from the birdhouse, one after another ! Thank you again for posting this information on how to control blowfly infestation.

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Ambassador
10/15/2017 06:28:10 pm

Thank you for writing, Rama. The dust from D.E. will not go upward and on to the babies.

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sessann orne
7/6/2017 09:41:58 pm

Hi there! I am so grateful to find this info. We have a family of barn swallows that nest in the same mud nest every year and have had no problems until now. two babies have been pushed out/or jumped out of the nest before they were ready on two consecutive nights. Noticed the second baby was infested with blowfly larva. removed them from the baby, but concerned the others in the nest will suffer the same fate. It would not be easy to add DE to the nest while they are still in there. Any suggestions for now? Thank you!

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Ambassador's Response
6/5/2019 03:36:03 pm

If your able to reach the nest pull nesting material up a little and apply DE (Food Grade) to the inside of the nest. Barn Swallows nest are some times difficult to reach.

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Kathi
7/14/2017 03:21:08 am

Yesterday we had a very heavy rain. Two of our robins fledglings who are just about 5 days old fell to the ground. One died and my husband tossed it before I could inspect it. He put the live baby Robin back in the nest with the other larger and healthier one. This discovery was made at night, still raining and getting down to 62 degrees. I struggled with what to do as after watching nest for 2 hours the mom was not returning. I decided to bring the two fledglings in for the night as directed by a bird forum website. Putnthem inna basket with hot bottle bottles. Upon inspection of one of the chicks it was infested with patches of blow fly larvae on back, in crevices of wings, and even in ears! I managed to get all the larvae off the chick with warm water on qtips and literally rinsing the chick under warm faucet as gently as possible. COULD NOT GET A FEW TINY LARVAE
OUT OF LEFT EAR! I was afraid I would damage the chick. I will try a tiny drop of diluted alcohol to hopefully kill those larvae.
Now is the dilemma.... it is now dawn and I don't have the larvae killing powder yet as just located this info.

Should I put the healthy baby. back in a clean recreational of the nest so the Mom returns. I wonder if she kicked the two babies out herself due to the infestation?

I know a great bird rehab place that would take them. I hate to take the babies away.

I may try to put a new nest and see if mom come back... if not then I will have no choice but to take them away. Wondering when they will need to eat? Probably soon and I can sprinted up some wprksmif mom non Responsive.Have no idea how long that baby was lying on ground alone... need advice about the ear and the timing necessary to return chicks before she will just stop looking for them! Haven't seen here and unfortunately a chilly rainy day again.

Chicks were still vibrant last night with movement.

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ROy
7/20/2017 05:52:07 am

I hope you kept those babies warm (but not hot), put them together in a dry nest (I use shop towels and change them out every day), and fed them (I feed moistened kitten chow mashed with hard-boiled eggs, but anything with lots of protein will do). Baby birds are easy to keep alive with lots of love and attention, but also easy to kill, even by accident.

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Ambassador
10/15/2017 06:46:43 pm

Next time take them to a rehabilitator, they are train to take of them. It is unlawful to have babies, feathers in ones possession.

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Rama
8/3/2018 05:52:24 pm

Hi Harry and fellow bluebird fans,

This is a follow-up to my post one year ago (on 7/3/2017). This year, I am thrilled to report that the Bluebird couple that occupied the Birdhouse in very early March in my backyard had three very successful broods - - 3 eggs (1st brood), 3 eggs (2nd time) and 4 eggs (what appears to be the last time this season). All the babies have successfully "graduated" from their birdhouse ! Each time I noticed some activity in the nest (i.e., eggs laid), I sprayed very carefully and delicately the Diatomaceous Earth powder into the nesting material, and kept my fingers crossed !

2018 has been the best year for bluebirds in my backyard, with 10 new birds released !

Thank you so much for providing this extremely helpful tip about using Diatomaceous Earth to control the blowfly infestation that killed many of my precious baby bulebirds the last 10 years or so !

Best,
- - Rama

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Ambassador
9/13/2018 09:27:10 am

Thank you for your comments

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Richard link
4/27/2019 11:23:33 am

Thanks for sharing Harry

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Ambassador Response link
10/15/2019 04:06:54 pm

You're welcome Richard, My website has over 30years of experience in dealing with bluebirds so enjoy the site.

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Kenneth Murray link
4/4/2020 09:03:24 am

Very interesting thanks for the information

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Patricia Johnston link
6/5/2020 09:40:03 am

I will try. Thank you for your excellent help. A big Eastern Bluebird fan.

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Terri H
6/16/2020 09:20:25 pm

Can blowfly larvae get underneath the skin of 4-day old bluebirds? I have a webcam in the box and there’s a short white wormlike thing wiggling under the skin of one of the 4 babies, on his back. If so, any advice other than DE?

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