Are Dead and Desiccated Insects a Desirable Avian Food Source?
Stafford, J.M.1, Gessaman, J.A.2, 1 2 ABSTRACT- When evaluating avian pesticide exposure, a number of factors must be considered to form an accurate risk assessment. In the past, such assessments have commonly been conducted with substantial uncertainty about avian consumption of exposed food items. One such uncertainty factor is whether or not the avian species would consume contaminated invertebrates that were killed by a chemical application, and which may present an increasing concentration of the chemical as they desiccate over time. Therefore, the question was asked: do birds select dead and desiccated insects as food items? This research question was addressed during this two-phased study. First, a laboratory study was conducted wherein wild-caught red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were individually offered three food choices: live, fresh-dead, and desiccated insect larvae under controlled laboratory conditions. Secondly, these same food choices plus live, fresh-dead,
