Bugs living on game birds

[jason crozier]

I normally hunt game birds in Northern Manitoba, anything from Ptarmigan, Spruce Grouse, Sharptails and Ruffed grouse. I was recently hunting in Southern Manitoba and managed to get a couple Ruffies.

While cleaning the birds, my friend who i was hunting with who lives in the south asked if i have ever seen the bugs living on the ruffies. I said i have seen small bird lice on Ptarmigan but that was it. Then he said they were like "beetle bugs" and very ugly. The next thing i know i see one crawling its way up from the body of the bird through the feathers. I found about 6 of these bugs on one bird only. They were the size of the regular house fly, winged, tan in color, flat bodied shaped, lots of legs and yes he was right, damn ugly.

I have never seen or heard of such a thing and the bird seemed as healthy as the others. Has anyone ever run into these bugs before?

thanks for your insight.

[Redfrog]

Sounds like a grouse louse.

can you pick him out of this lineup?

http://www.rudepest.com/services/otherpests/index.htm

[jason crozier]

haha,good one, got me there i wasn't even expecting that answer. haha

[greylynx]

I normally hunt game birds in Northern Manitoba, anything from Ptarmigan, Spruce Grouse, Sharptails and Ruffed grouse. I was recently hunting in Southern Manitoba and managed to get a couple Ruffies.

While cleaning the birds, my friend who i was hunting with who lives in the south asked if i have ever seen the bugs living on the ruffies. I said i have seen small bird lice on Ptarmigan but that was it. Then he said they were like "beetle bugs" and very ugly. The next thing i know i see one crawling its way up from the body of the bird through the feathers. I found about 6 of these bugs on one bird only. They were the size of the regular house fly, winged, tan in color, flat bodied shaped, lots of legs and yes he was right, damn ugly.

I have never seen or heard of such a thing and the bird seemed as healthy as the others. Has anyone ever run into these bugs before?

thanks for your insight.

The Manitoba grouse bug:

I warn you. Do not let this bug bite you.

The biochemical reactions that will result in your body will cause you to release pheromones, that drive human wimmin, crazy.

Recent tests at Pfizer chemical in Zurich Swizterland have shown that Canadian males, especially individuals raised in Manitoba, that were bitten by the grouse bug will release these pheromones for a period of one to two weeks. In the period one to two weeks, the male human will be swarmed by beautiful women who are unable to control themselves.

Because this is a family forum I will not elaborate on what happens to the poor Canadian male affected by this biochemical change in his body, but let me see say that women will do more than purchase expensive fishing and hunting equipment for you.

You can find more information about this horrible affliction, by sending expensive left handed rifles and shotguns to Herr Doktor Greylynx at the International Grouse Lice Institute at Behind Great Grampa's old barn.

This affliction must be controlled by government authorities.

Like Wendy Cukier of the Coalition for gun Confiscation says:

If it only saves one Louse

Please note that Herr Doktor Greylynx was not consuming anything great grandpa use to make behind the old barn.:)

Please note that there is no antidote currently available for this grouse louse.
Herr Doktor Greylynx is currently seeking a multi-million dollar research grant with the feminist "Men are Pigs and Deserve to Die" organization from the Canadian National Research Council. to produce a vaccine.

[jason crozier]

yet another response i wasn't expecting. haha, you must be bored. too bad i wasn't bitten because i have a nice long list of expensive equiptment that i would like..

[jason crozier]

Redfrog, the pest i saw was not on that list. i wish i took a picture of them because the were so goddamn ugly. i'll keep searching for an answer though

[FishingMOM]

is this what you saw?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/4285889099/

A tiny but wild-looking grouse locust (species of Amorphopus Audinet-Serville, 1838, Tetrigidae: Metrodorinae)

he has several cousins also
http://www.cirrusimage.com/Orthoptera/hooded_grouse_locust_1.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/371164552/

[jason crozier]

very similar shape without the fancy marking and color. i think the one i saw had clear wings like a housefly would have.

[HunterDave]

How long were your birds dead for? Maybe they were flies!

I've never really looked for anything on my grouse because I step on the wings, pull the legs to clean/gut it, wrap the wings around the breast and put it in my pocket. I'd be interested to know more about the bugs though.

[32-40win]

I happened to get some snow geese with some form of a lice or perhaps a water bug this year, noticed them scooting thru the feathers as I was cleaning them, sort of a grayish green colour, sort of canoe shaped, quite a few legs, and about 1/4" long.
First time I noticed bugs on the birds. Kind of made me wonder why I didn't notice them on other birds, maybe just because they were on snows.

By the way greylynx, I'm thinkin the Axe lawyers will be sending you a nasty letter for giving away their proprietary secrets.

[jason crozier]

the birds were only dead for a few hours, and in -15 degree temps. these bugs were about 1/4" long as well with wings and they come up through feathers from the skin????