Meeting Abstract

P3-117    Sulfur dust bags as a potential non-toxic ectoparasite treatment in free-living songbirds Couvillion, KE*; Stansberry, KR; Kelly, TR; Cannon, AL; Lattin, CR; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA kcouvi8@lsu.edu

The Northern fowl mite is a common ectoparasite affecting cavity-nesting birds. Parasitized chicks can display decreased survival, body condition, and immune function, and because climate change is projected to increase ectoparasite range and abundance, non-toxic methods for eliminating nest parasites may be useful for the management of threatened and endangered species. One common ectoparasite treatment is permethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide. However, recent studies suggest that permethrin has slight but significant effects on nestling survival and development. One possible alternative is sulfur dust bags, which in chickens have been shown to be a non-toxic and cost-effective pesticide treatment. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of sulfur bags in European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) nest boxes (n=28). In both treatment and control groups, a cotton bag was stapled inside the box above the entrance. In the experimental group, the bag was filled with wettable sulfur, whereas in the control group, the bag was empty. Bag placement was to allow for sulfur release when adults entered and exited the nest box. Nine days after clutch completion, we counted egg spots as one measure of nest parasite load. Each nestling’s left wing web was visually scored for parasites 3 and 9 days post hatch. On day 14, the largest and smallest nestlings in each nest were dusted with permethrin and mites collected for quantification of parasite load. Sulfur bags were weighed after treatment and on average of 8% of the sulfur mass was dispensed. Preliminary results showed no significant effect of sulfur treatment on egg spottiness or any measure of mite abundance. These results suggest that the amount of sulfur dust dispensed was not enough to affect ectoparasites. Future work should explore other methods of administration to better evaluate sulfur’s effectiveness in wild birds.