Lepidoptera from nests of four insectivorous bird species

Abstract

Lepidoptera fauna of insectivorous bird nests, Parus major Linnaeus, P. varius Temminck & Schlegel, Locustella pleskei Taczanowski and Eurystomus orientalis (Linnaeus), was investigated in Japan. Ten moth species were identified. These larvae fed on keratin (down, crushed feather sheaths), chitin (pellets, crushed insects), droppings, dead leaves, dead moss and dead liverwort in the nests. The differences in moth fauna between bird species were related to the types of nest materials and detritus in the nests.