Identification
Length of pronotal hairs longer than the width of the eye
The middle and hind coxae are widely separated and beak does not reach 2nd coxae
Long body hairs and third and fourth antennal segments are equal in length
Habitat
Ectoparasitic on hole-nesting birds, such as swallows; generally closely associated on cliff swallows Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, but has been recently reported on barn swallows Hirundo rustica and purple martins Progne subis .
Food
hematophagous (blood-feeding)
Life Cycle
Bugs lay eggs that hatch in 35 days; nymphs mature in 10 weeks; adults are long lived and will mate and reproduce as long as food is available. Adults disperse to other nesting colonies by clinging onto the feathers of the host as it seeks for suitable nest sites. During the fall and winter when the birds are absent, the adults either seek alternative hosts (e.g. mice, bats, other birds) or remain in the empty nest- the bugs can survive for up to a year without food.
Remarks
Swallow bugs are considered to be one of main sources of mortality for swallow nestlings. They are the principal vectors for Buggy Creek virus and also Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.
Print References
1) Heteroptera of Economic Importance
By Carl W. Schaefer, and Antonio Ricardo Panizzi
CRC Press, 2000
2) J.E. Loye, 1985. Life history and ecology of Oeciacus vicarius Cah. ORSTOM. set. Ent. med. et. Parasitol. 23(2): 133-139
3) C.R. Brown and Brown, M.B. (2005) Between-group transmission dynamics of the swallow bug, Oeciacus vicarius. Journal of Vector Ecology 30(1): 137-143
Internet References
Images of a closely related European species
Oeciacus hirundinis the martin bug.
Contributed by
Tim Loh on 9 February, 2009 - 8:01pm
Last updated 10 February, 2009 - 12:38am
