Species Oeciacus vicarius - Swallow Nest Bug

American Swallow Bug, Cliff Swallow Bug

Oeciacus vicarius Horváth 1912

much of NA, north to NF-AK, but mostly in the west; not associated with swallows in their South American wintering quarters(1)(2)(3)

hosts: hole-nesting birds, such as swallows; generally closely associated on cliff swallows Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, but recently reported on barn swallows Hirundo rustica and purple martins Progne subis(4); adults and nymphs may come indoors in large numbers in response to the removal of nearby bird nests; in the absence of other hosts, they will bite humans(3)

assemble in the empty swallow nests in April; when migrating swallows return to the nests, the bugs take blood meals(3)

eggs are laid within 24 h of feeding and hatch in 3-5 days; development to adult takes ~60 days; 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 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.(3)(4)

one of main sources of mortality for swallow nestlings; principal vector of Buggy Creek virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus(4)

Loye J.E. (1985) Life history and ecology of Oeciacus vicarius. Cah. ORSTOM. set. Ent. med. et. Parasitol. 23: 133-139 (Full text)

Brown C.R., Brown M.B. (2005) Between-group transmission dynamics of the swallow bug, Oeciacus vicarius. J. Vector Ecology 30: 137-143 (Full text)