A non-invasive technique to bleed incubating birds without trapping: A blood-sucking bug in a hollow egg

Peter H. Becker; Christian C. Voigt; Jennifer M. Arnold; Rolf Nagel

doi:10.1007/s10336-005-0027-3

A non-invasive technique to bleed incubating birds without trapping: A blood-sucking bug in a hollow egg

Peter H. Becker, Christian C. Voigt, Jennifer M. Arnold, Rolf Nagel

Division of Science (Berks)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe a non-invasive technique to obtain blood samples from incubating birds without trapping and handling. A larval instar of the blood-sucking bug Dipetalogaster maximus (Heteroptera) was put in a hollowed artificial egg which was placed in a common tern Sterna hirundo) nest. A gauze-covered hole in the egg allowed the bug to draw blood from the brood patch of breeding adults. We successfully collected 68 blood samples of sufficient amount (median=187 μl). The daily success rate was highest during the early breeding season and averaged 34% for all trials. We could not detect any visible response by the incubating bird to the sting of the bug. This technique allows for non-invasive blood collection from bird species of various sizes without disturbance.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	115-118
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Ornithology
Volume	147
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-005-0027-3
State	Published - Jan 1 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Animal Science and Zoology

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10.1007/s10336-005-0027-3

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Becker, P. H., Voigt, C. C., Arnold, J. M., & Nagel, R. (2006). A non-invasive technique to bleed incubating birds without trapping: A blood-sucking bug in a hollow egg. Journal of Ornithology, 147(1), 115-118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-005-0027-3

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