Philornis ectoparasitism of pearly-eyed thrashers. I. Impact on growth and development of nestlings.

Abstract

Growth rates varied little among unparasitized Margarops fuscatus nestlings. Botfly ectoparasitism, however, significantly retarded growth and development in parasitized young. Nestling growth was most affected within the first 1.5 wk after hatching. Body mass and tarsus were most affected by ectoparasitism. Nestling body mass fluctuated markedly in response to the biomass of the infesting larvae. Tarsus length was retarded in parasitized young throughout the nestling period. -from Author