Effects of Chemical and Auditory Cues of Hoopoes (Upupa epops) in Repellence and Attraction of Blood-Feeding Flies

Abstract

Research on the mechanisms involved in host location by parasites is of paramount importance and may aid in developing protective measures against them. This topic attains far-reaching repercussions for human and animal welfare regarding parasites transmitting vector-borne pathogens, such as blood-feeding flies. Very few studies have evaluated the effect of bird-derived cues on attraction of vectors in field conditions. We here explored the attraction of different groups of blood-feeding flies (mosquitoes, blackflies and biting midges) to auditory cues produced by begging hoopoe (Upupa epops) nestlings, and to three chemical cues derived from hoopoe nestlings or nests (uropygial secretion, symbiotic bacteria isolated from the secretion, and nest material) in the field. We deployed insect traps baited with the different stimuli at the beginning and at the end of the hoopoe breeding-season in four different habitats. Abundance of blood-feeding flies varied depending on habitat and sampling period. Begging auditory cues of nestling hoopoes did not affect abundance of flies. However, chemical stimuli affected abundance of mosquitoes, which were less abundant in traps baited with bacteria or with nest material than in control traps. Abundance of biting midges in traps also depended on the chemical stimulus but in interaction with sampling period or habitat. Fewer biting midges were collected in traps baited with bacteria and with secretion in the habitats where abundance of biting midges is higher. Our results suggest that uropygial secretion of hoopoes, and symbiotic bacteria living in this secretion, may repel blood-feeding flies from their nests.

Understanding host utilization by mosquitoes: determinants, challenges and future directions

“…Host sounds could potentially be used by other mosquito species to locate their hosts, as suggested for ornithophilic species being attracted to the begging calls of nestlings (Tomás & Soler, 2016). However, the same authors did not find support for this hypothesis when they tested the effect of begging auditory cues of nestling hoopoes ( Upupa epops ) on blood‐feeding flies including mosquitoes (Tomás et al ., 2020). To the best of our knowledge, no evidence to date has suggested that sound plays a role in human location by anthropophilic mosquitoes.…”

Microbially Mediated Chemical Ecology of Animals: A Review of Its Role in Conspecific Communication, Parasitism and Predation

“…For defense against predator or parasite enemies, some animals use metabolites synthesized by other organisms with antimicrobial and antipredatory properties (i.e., self-medication [ 94 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 ]). Animals also use defensive metabolites that are endogenously produced (e.g., uropygial gland secretions of birds [ 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 ]).…”

“…For defense against predator or parasite enemies, some animals use metabolites synthesized by other organisms with antimicrobial and antipredatory properties (i.e., self-medication [ 94 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 ]). Animals also use defensive metabolites that are endogenously produced (e.g., uropygial gland secretions of birds [ 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 ]). Some of these endogenously produced compounds are volatiles, and abundant correlative and experimental evidence supports the role of such metabolites in interfering with host attractiveness to predators and parasites [ 85 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 ].…”

“…This is, for instance, the case of green woodhoopoes ( Phoeniculus purpureus ) hosting symbiotic bacteria in their uropygial glands, which produce metabolites that repel predators [ 29 , 135 ]. Similarly, the uropygial secretions of nestling hoopoes also include bacterial symbionts that produce antimicrobials [ 136 , 137 , 138 ] and repellents for mosquitoes and biting midges [ 113 ]. Associations between characteristics of the uropygial gland and the risk of parasitism [ 139 , 140 , 141 ], as well as symbiotic bacteria living in the uropygial gland [ 17 , 142 , 143 , 144 ], are now described in phylogenetically distant bird species.…”

Habitat-dependent Culicoides species composition and abundance in blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nests

“…Secondly, we developed a cross-fostering experiment based on the results obtained and considering that the observed differences between the 2 forests could be due to the effects of habitat type on the emission of nestling cues (e.g. microbiota, Ruiz-López, 2020; or the composition of uropygial secretions, Tomás et al, 2020), rather than a direct association between habitat type and Culicoides. This study design meant we could examine the role of rearing environment conditions (i.e.…”