Cases of unintentional phoresy of beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) on birds

Abstract

Cases of unintentional phoresy of adult beetles on birds are discussed in this article. Five species of beetles from families Anobiidae, Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae and Dermestidae were recorded on five species of birds (families Columbidae, Muscicapidae, Phasianidae and Turdidae). Three species of beetles are openly living phytophages, and two species are invasive and/or cryptogenic nidicoles. The associations of beetles with nests increase the possibility of transferring phoronts during bird migrations possibly serving as one of the manifestations (avi-vector) of invasive species dispersal processes.

Keywords

• ecology
• phoresy
• beetles
• birds
• distribution
• invasion