the eponymous male sporting the blue on the Lepidopteran Lodgers: upper surface of its wings Recording from Bird Nests and the female typically being a more muted by Douglas Boyes coppery brown. Now we see in the series of Very hungry caterpillars moths Eupithecia spp. eat flies. These caterpillars photographs published Acaterpillar munching on a leaf is probably what patiently adopt a twig-like posture, ready to strike here that it is the male who comes to mind when most people picture the when one lands nearby (Montgomery, 1983). does the work in this early life stages of butterflies and moths. But if There’s no need to venture to the tropics to particular instance. Since Eric Carle’s classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, find weird and wonderful feeding strategies. he is the one generating the is to be believed, caterpillars have a much more Look no further than the remarkable china-mark moths Acentropinae, whose aquatic larvae feed on lift, his body lies above and varied palette. It is certainly true that many shun the conventional diet of leafy greens, even pondweed in waterbodies throughout the UK. A ahead of that of the female, if lepidopterans that enjoy a diet of chocolate sizeable number of British species manage to obtain whilst her body is dragged cake and Swiss cheese are confined to children’s their sustenance from dead wood, while a couple passively through the air, storybooks. have specialised on beeswax. As testament to how her wings either folded or Take Cryptoses choloepi, a pyralid found difficult it is to extract nutrients from honeycomb, partially extended. Even in the forests of South America. The caterpillars of the larvae of Greater Wax Moth Galleria mellonella though she is not actively this species feed exclusively on sloth droppings can also break down plastics (Bombelli, Howe & Bertocchini, 2017). participating in flight it is at (Waage & Montgomery, 1976). Or Hyposmocoma molluscivora, which spins silk to ensnare passing Given this wide array of feeding strategies, it least possible that the snails (Rubinoff & Haines, 2005). Some species may come as no surprise that some moths have profile of her wings affects have to be quick. In Hawaii, a number of pug taken to living in bird nests. flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous drag whereas extended wings might produce passive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neither of these possibilities can be determined simply from photographic observations, however, and it would be interesting to find out if it is always the male that takes the lead. Bu erflies are perhaps at their most vulnerable to predators when they are mating and it is to be expected that appropriate flight behaviour would have been evolved to enable escape. John Brackenbury, 40 Long Lane, Willingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LB

www.atropos.info 42 Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 www.atropos.info the eponymous male sporting the blue on the upper surface of its wings and the female typically being a more muted coppery brown. Now we see in the series of An unlikely home? photographs published Moths are not the only lodgers in bird nests; 17 here that it is the male who other invertebrate orders have been found living does the work in this in nests globally (Hicks, 1959) and a single study in particular instance. Since England documented over 120 different he is the one generating the species (Woodroffe, 1953). A nest full of hungry lift, his body lies above and beaks would appear to be a rather perilous living arrangement for most . What can make ahead of that of the female, living in the home of a predator worthwhile? whilst her body is dragged At first glance, bird nests might not seem passively through the air, that special. But to invertebrates, they represent her wings either folded or a veritable trove of organic detritus: from nesting partially extended. Even materials, such as dried leaves and moss, to though she is not actively feathers and nutrient-rich guano. Even the birds themselves may be food, both dead and alive participating in flight it is at (depending on whether you’re a decomposer or a least possible that the parasite). profile of her wings affects It’s thanks to this varied assortment of flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous dragresources—concentrated whereas extended wings in one might spot—that produce nests passive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neitherare able of these to support possibilities such diverse can becommunities. determined On simply from photographic observations, however,top of and this, it birdwould nests be tend interesting to be sheltered to find and out are if it is always the male that takes the lead. often relatively warm, especially while chicks are being incubated (Sinclair & Chown, 2006)—all the Bu erflies are perhaps at their most vulnerable to predators when they are mating and makings of an invertebrate’s paradise. it is to be expected that appropriate flight behaviour would have been evolved to enable The contents of several nest boxes. The buffet inadvertently laid out by birds Middletown,escape. Montgomeryshire, October clearly benefits the invertebrates. But is this 2013 (Photo: D. Boyes). John Brackenbury, 40 Longrelationship Lane, Willingham, ever mutually Cambridgeshire, beneficial? CB24 Perhaps. 5LB Some lodgers may pay their way by recycling waste materials, helping to keep the nest clean. It’s also possible that birds enjoy a reduced level of parasitism if their nest contains a diverse community of invertebrates, as these will tend to include predatory species that help keep the number of fleas and mites low (Hanmer et al., 2017). Tree hollows, the natural analogues to artificial boxes, may be especially rich in these beneficial invertebrates, as these have faster rates of detritus decomposition and fewer ectoparasites (Hebda, Kandziora & Mitrus, 2017).

Two easily identified bird nest tineids, semifulvella (facing page) and T. trinotella (above) (Photos: D. Boyes). www.atropos.infowww.atropos.info Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 43 the eponymous male Learning more sporting the blue on the It was back in 2013 when I first looked for moths The findings of that project have been covered upper surface of its wings in bird nests. I saw my parents cleaning out the elsewhere (see Boyes, 2018; Boyes & Lewis, garden nest boxes and seized the opportunity 2018). So instead of repeating those results here, and the female typically to find out about this unusual group. I simply I thought it would be more useful to explain the being a more muted put the material from six tit nests in a plastic general methods; a ‘how to’ guide, if you like. I’ll coppery brown. Now we tub. The following spring it was alive with adult then mention some of the moths that might turn see in the series of moths from five different species ( up. I hope this will prove helpful and perhaps photographs published laevigella, Endrosis sarcitrella, Hofmannophila encourage a few people to give it a go. here that it is the male who pseudospretella, Niditinea striolella and I wanted to do quantitative analysis for my does the work in this Nemapogon koenigi). dissertation, so I gathered enough nests to fill a A couple of years later I took it up a notch shed. Obviously, there’s no need to collect so many. particular instance. Since and collected around 250 bird nests. This was to My earlier rearing exercise shows that looking at a he is the one generating the form my undergraduate research project. Having small handful of nests can still be rewarding. lift, his body lies above and just completed Part I of my finals, the following ahead of that of the female, summer consisted largely of drinking Pimm’s, whilst her body is dragged going punting, and counting the thousands of passively through the air, moths that emerged (though not necessarily all at her wings either folded or the same time). partially extended. Even though she is not actively participating in flight it is at least possible that the profile of her wings affects flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous drag whereas extended wings might produce passive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neither of these possibilities can be determined simply from photographic observations, however, and it would be interesting to find out if it is always the male that takes the lead. Bu erflies are perhaps at their most vulnerable to predators when they are mating and it is to be expected that appropriate flight behaviour would have been evolved to enable escape. John Brackenbury, 40 Long Lane, Willingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LB

Niditinea striolella are exceptionally well-camouflaged in nest material (Photos: D. Boyes).

www.atropos.info 44 Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 www.atropos.info REARINGthe eponymous MOTHS FROM male BIRD NESTS: SOMEsporting POINTERS the blue on the upper surface of its wings Sourcingand the nests female typically Songbirdbeing nests a morecan be collected muted any time after the Of course, the vast majority of British chicks are fully fledged (a new nest is built each birds don’t regularly breed in nest boxes. coppery brown. Now we season). In practice, it’s usually fine to collect these I was lucky to be in an area with lots of Pied nestssee from in October the series up until ofthe end of January. Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca and Redstart Asphotographs most of you will publishedknow, it is an offence under Phoenicurus phoenicurus; however, for much thehere Wildlife that itand is theCountryside male who Act 1981 to interfere of the UK, nest boxes will be overwhelmingly withdoes the nest the of work any wild in bird this while it’s in use. occupied by Great Tit Parus major and Blue particularArtificial instance. nest boxes Since are the easiest way to Tit Cyanistes caeruleus. It often requires a bit obtain nests. Those erected at breast height are he is the one generating the more effort to get a wider variety of nest types. ideal, as this saves faffing about with a ladder. Lots of species take sanctuary in hedges or Naturelift, his reserves body lies typically above and have a high density dense undergrowth. These nests can become ofahead boxes. of Get that permission of the female, from the landowner conspicuous in the depths of winter. first—thiswhilst her is bodyunlikely is todragged be a challenge; most nest boxespassively are routinely through emptied the air,each winter so you’re probablyher wings going either to be savingfolded someone or a job. partially extended. Even though she is not actively participating in flight it is at least possible that the profile of her wings affects flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous drag whereas extended wings might produce passive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neither of these possibilities Figurecan be 1. determined Species simply from photographic observations, however, and it would be interestingdiscovery curveto find for my out if it is always the male that takes the lead. undergraduate project data. This shows the total Bu erflies are perhaps at their most vulnerable to predators when theynumber are of mating moth species and it is to be expected that appropriate flight behaviour would have been expectedevolved when to aenable given escape. number of bird nests are collected. A small John Brackenbury, 40 Long Lane, Willingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LB handful of nests is most likely to yield 1–3 moth species but it may require collecting increasingly more nests to find additional species. How many nests? I had initially sourced 500 nests but storage space The good news is even if you only collect one nest, quickly became an issue. To save space (and it will probably contain bird nest moths (around reduce effort), material from lots of nests can be three-quarters of my nests contained at least one aggregated in a single large container; although species). It’s not unusual for a single nest to contain I think it’s preferable to keep each nest separate. several species but it’s essentially a lucky dip. My This way you can get an idea of how many moths project data suggests it may be necessary to collect are living in a single nest and see if specific types a fair few to have a good chance of recording the of nest have different moth species. more unusual species.

www.atropos.infowww.atropos.info Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 45 the eponymous male sporting the blue on the upper surface of its wings and the female typically being a more muted coppery brown. Now we see in the series of photographs published here that it is the male who does the work in this particular instance. Since he is the one generating the lift, his body lies above and ahead of that of the female, whilst her body is dragged passively through the air, her wings either folded or partially extended. Even though she is not actively participating in flight it is at least possible that the profile of her wings affects flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous drag whereas extended wings might produce passive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neither of these possibilities can be determined Collecting material from nest boxes on Boxing Day. Dolforwyn Woods, Montgomeryshire, December 2015 (Photo: C. Boyes). simply from photographic observations, however, and it would be interesting to find out if it is always the male that takes the lead. Bu erflies are perhaps at their most vulnerable to predators when they are mating and it is to be expected that appropriate flight behaviour would have Collectingbeen evolved the to nest enable material escape. Even over the winter, nests are teeming with life. fleas off when I felt them crawling on my skin. The lepidopteran inhabitants are not typically A potentially more serious hazard is John Brackenbury, 40 Long Lane, Willingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LB conspicuous (save the odd caterpillar), but fungal spores. If inhaled, some can cause nasty there is plenty to keep an all-round naturalist respiratory problems and I had to wear a entertained. Beetles, flies, earwigs, spiders, respirator for my undergraduate project. In my centipedes, millipedes, evidence of bee and own time, I would instead opt to minimise the wasp nests—no doubt pseudoscorpions and all risk by only handling nests in well-ventilated manner of other minuscule critters too. areas and taking care to avoid getting my face too Unfortunately, there is sometimes unwelcome close to nest material. company when gathering nests. Bird fleas are For nest boxes, the entire contents can just one of the most prolific inhabitants of nest boxes be scooped out. Any container will do. I found and quite literally leap out of hibernation on paper bags easiest to work with in the field sensing vibrations from an approaching warm- (these can be sealed by folding several times and blooded . Thankfully, they can’t survive securing with clips). Some nests will be bone dry, long without an avian host so are no more than others soaked through. For wet nests, placing the a mild irritant. Disposable overalls and gloves paper bags on an old towel is an effective way to can prevent the itchy bites. In the end, I found soak up excess moisture (although these should it easier to wear shorts and a t-shirt, flicking the not be dried out completely).

www.atropos.info 46 Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 www.atropos.info the eponymous male Handling nests for my sporting the blue on the undergraduate project. upper surface of its wings Perhaps you can be and the female typically too careful after all… being a more muted (Photo: J. Jaffe). coppery brown. Now we see in the series of photographs published here that it is the male who does the work in this particular instance. Since he is the one generating the lift, his body lies above and Nests in paper bags, ahead of that of the female, shortly after being whilst her body is dragged collected. Middletown, passively through the air, Montgomeryshire, January her wings either folded or 2016 (Photo: D. Boyes). partially extended. Even though she is not actively participating in flight it is at least possible that the profile of her wings affects flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous drag whereas extended wings might produce passive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neither of these possibilities can be determined simply from photographic observations, however, and it would be interesting to find out if it is always the male that takes the lead. Bu erflies are perhaps at their most vulnerable to predators when they are mating and Storingit is to benests expected until emergence that appropriate flight behaviour would have been evolved to enable Toescape. make it easier to observe the insects, I transferred nests into plastic boxes, similar to John Brackenbury, 40 Long Lane, Willingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LB the type used for Chinese takeaways. A sealed container is liable to a build-up of condensation, so a large hole should be made in the lid. To prevent insects escaping, secure a sheet of fine mesh under the lid so it is taut. Store the nests in a shed, or similar. This should be unheated, with little direct sunlight. The nests can now be forgotten until the spring. Adults will begin to appear from mid- April to early May. Around this time it is worth checking on the nests at least once every two to three days. The emergence can be fairly drawn- out and some species appear several weeks later than others. Nests in plastic containers ready for emergence. John Krebs Field Station, Wytham, May 2016 (Photo: D. Boyes). www.atropos.infowww.atropos.info Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 47 the eponymous male The usual suspects The nests of raptors are thought to be home to a sporting the blue on the The most frequent moths in nest boxes are Skin unique community of scavenging invertebrates upper surface of its wings Moth , White-shouldered that exploit scraps of dead animal. Monopis House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella and the fenestratella, which has only been recorded and the female typically wonderfully-named Brown House-moth in Britain on a few occasions, may be one such being a more muted Hofmannophila pseudospretella. A single nest can example (Jaworski, Gryz & Buszko, 2011). Unlike coppery brown. Now we contain several hundred individuals of these in songbirds, the nests of bird of prey are reused see in the series of species. They all feed on detritus in situations not season to season so the opportunity to study their photographs published limited to bird nests (as suggested by the common fauna is rare. Collecting the pellets of these birds here that it is the male who names). may be an effective way to rear the specialists that does the work in this Other species that might be expected include consume animal detritus. Tinea semifulvella and T. trinotella, both of Nests in built-up areas may also host a particular instance. Since which will be familiar to avid moth-trappers as slightly different group of species. These can he is the one generating the they readily come to light. Conversely, Niditinea contain clothes moths that are not originally lift, his body lies above and striolella seems rather secretive (and can only be native to Europe and don’t occur naturally in bird ahead of that of the female, identified from genitalia) but can be common in nests here. The most infamous species, Tineola whilst her body is dragged nest boxes so is probably rather overlooked. bisselliella, serves as an exemplar. This much- passively through the air, There are quite a number of scarce species hated pest was probably accidentally imported from Africa during the nineteenth century (Plarre her wings either folded or that are said to be associated with bird nests. Examples include the strikingly-marked & Krüger-Carstensen, 2011) and now reaches partially extended. Even Tapestry Moth Trichophaga tapetzella, as well as such a high density when chewing through our though she is not actively the much more nondescript Tinea columbariella jumpers that they sometimes spill out into nearby participating in flight it is at and T. dubiella. bird nests (Plarre, 2014). least possible that the profile of her wings affects Tapestry Moth flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous drag whereas extended wings might produce Trichophaga tapetzella. passive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neither of these possibilities can be determined Casares, Malaga Province, Andalucia, Spain, 31 October simply from photographic observations, however, and it would be interesting to find out 2018 (Photo: D.G. Grundy). if it is always the male that takes the lead. Bu erflies are perhaps at their most vulnerable to predators when they are mating and it is to be expected that appropriate flight behaviour would have been evolved to enable escape. John Brackenbury, 40 Long Lane, Willingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LB

Tinea columbariella. Sapcote, Leicestershire, 25 June 2018 (Photo: G. Callow).

www.atropos.info 48 Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 www.atropos.info the eponymous male sporting the blue on the upper surface of its wings and the female typically being a more muted coppery brown. Now we see in the series of photographs published here that it is the male who does the work in this particular instance. Since he is the one generating the lift, his body lies above and ahead of that of the female, whilst her body is dragged passively through the air, her wings either folded or partially extended. Even though she is not actively participating in flight it is at least possible that the profile of her wings affects White-shouldered House-moth flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous drag whereas extendedEndrosis wings sarcitrella might produceblending into Conclusionspassive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neither of these possibilities can be determinedthe nest material (Photo: D. Boyes). Thesimply detritus-eating from photographic moths are a fascinatingobservations, group. however, and it would be interesting to find out In Britain, around 20 such species are supposedly foundif it is in always bird nests. the male However, that mosttakes of the these lead. are poorlyBu erflies understood are and perhaps the majority at their appear most to vulnerable be to predators when they are mating and quiteit is rare.to be As expected with most that microlepidoptera, appropriate flight these behaviour would have been evolved to enable speciesescape. are easiest to study through their early life stages. Some will regularly show up in moth-traps John Brackenbury, 40 Long Lane, Willingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LB but many do not. These moths can be easily reared by putting old bird nests in a sealed container—the only difficult thing is remembering to check for adults in the spring! This is a great activity to do over the winter when there’s not much else going on. Any resulting records will no doubt be greatly appreciated by your County Moth Recorder (you Skin Moth might even find species that are new for your vice- Monopis laevigella is county). If you give it a go, feel free to get in touch one of the most abundant bird with any queries and do let me know how you get nest moths (Photo: D. Boyes). on. Good luck!

www.atropos.infowww.atropos.info Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 49 the eponymous male References sporting the blue on the Bombelli, P., Howe, C.J. & Bertocchini, F., 2017. Sinclair, B.J. & Chown, S.L., 2006. Caterpillars upper surface of its wings Polyethylene bio-degradation by caterpillars of benefit from thermal ecosystem engineering by and the female typically the wax moth Galleria mellonella. Current Biology wandering albatrosses on sub-Antarctic Marion being a more muted 27: R292‒R293. Island. Biology Letters 2: 51‒54. coppery brown. Now we *Boyes, D.H., 2018. Natural history of Waage, J.K. & Montgomery, G.G., 1976. Cryptoses see in the series of associated with bird nests in mid-Wales. Ent. Rec. choloepi: a coprophagous moth that lives on a photographs published J. Var. 130: 249‒259. sloth. Science, 193: 157‒158. here that it is the male who *Boyes, D.H. & Lewis, O.T., 2018. Ecology of Woodroffe, G.E., 1953. An ecological study of does the work in this Lepidoptera associated with bird nests in mid- the insects and mites in the nests of certain birds particular instance. Since Wales, UK. Ecological Entomology: doi:10.1111/ in Britain. Bulletin of Entomological Research 44: he is the one generating the een.12669 739‒772. lift, his body lies above and * These are freely available on the publications Hanmer, H.J., Thomas, R.L., Beswick, G.J., page of my personal website; alternatively, just ahead of that of the female, 2017. Use of Collins, B.P., & Fellowes, M.D., drop me an email. whilst her body is dragged anthropogenic material affects bird nest arthropod passively through the air, community structure: influence of urbanisation, Douglas Boyes, her wings either folded or and consequences for ectoparasites and fledging Bridge Cottage, Middletown, Welshpool, partially extended. Even success. Journal of Ornithology 158: 1045‒1059. Powys, SY21 8DG though she is not actively Hebda, G.A., Kandziora, A. & Mitrus, S., 2017. Email: [email protected]; participating in flight it is at Decomposition of nest material in tree holes Website: www.douglasboyes.co.uk least possible that the and nest-boxes occupied by European Starlings profile of her wings affects Sturnus vulgaris: an experimental study. Acta Ornithologica 52: 119‒125. flight. Folded wings might reduce viscous drag whereas extended wings might produce passive lift, like the tail wings of an aircraft. Neither of these possibilitiesHicks, can E.A., be 1959. determined Check-list and bibliography on the simply from photographic observations, however, and it would beoccurrence interesting of insects to find in bird out nests . Iowa State College if it is always the male that takes the lead. Press, Ames, Iowa, USA. Bu erflies are perhaps at their most vulnerable to predators whenJaworski, they are T., mating Gryz, and J. & Buszko, J., 2011. it is to be expected that appropriate flight behaviour would have Monopisbeen evolved fenestratella to enable (Heyden, 1863)(Lepidoptera, Our escape. )-new records from Poland, with notes on species biology. Fragmenta Faunistica 54: 149‒151. John Brackenbury, 40 Long Lane, Willingham, Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LB butterflies Montgomery, S.L., 1983. Carnivorous caterpillars: the behavior, biogeography and conservation of Eupithecia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in the and moths Hawaiian Islands. GeoJournal 7: 549‒556. Plarre, R. & Krüger-Carstensen, B., 2011. An attempt to reconstruct the natural and cultural need our history of the webbing clothes moth Hummel (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 43: 83‒93. native Plarre, R., 2014. Likelihood of infestations by Tineola bisselliella (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) from natural reservoirs. Proceedings of the Eighth International plants. Conference on Urban Pests, 20‒23 July 2014, Zürich. Rubinoff, D. & Haines, W.P., 2005. Web-spinning Find them here: caterpillar stalks snails. Science 309: 575‒575. www.HabitatAid.co.uk www.atropos.info 50 Atropo Atroposs 62 62 11 www.atropos.info