What bug chases the martins?

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Kellye
Posts: 75
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 11:21 am
Location: Kansas

Hello Everyone! Some sort of bug chases the martins!?! It's about the size of a bee or a wasp. Has anyone else experience this?
2015- 4 fledged
2016- 15 fledged
2017- 50 fledged
2018- 82 fledged
2019- 116 fledged
2020- 175 fledged
2021- 170 fledged
1 12 room Trendsetter, 1 18 gourd rack, 1 28 room Trendsetter house.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

I've seen Bumble/Carpenter Bees chase/follow the Martins.

Martins also eat bees & wasps. I've removed "Greater Black Wasps" from chicks beaks & throat. They have large pincher's.

Toy in PA
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Mhoover
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 10:30 am
Location: Indiana/Monticello - White County
Martin Colony History: Started with 2 pair in 2014 - 7 eggs -7 fledged

Have you checked your cavities to see if you might have a paper wasp nest in one? I had something similar happen last year and found a wasp nest in one of my gourds. There were probably thirty wasps in the nest when I found it.
2017-5 pair
2016-4 pair- 18 hatched-18 fledged
2015-1 pair -Both ASY- 6 eggs-5 fledged
2014-2 pair- 1 ASY-M/SY-F-1 ASY pair - 7 eggs-7 fledged

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Kellye
Posts: 75
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 11:21 am
Location: Kansas

Paper wasps are not in the house or gourds. But they do nest in the predator guards.
2015- 4 fledged
2016- 15 fledged
2017- 50 fledged
2018- 82 fledged
2019- 116 fledged
2020- 175 fledged
2021- 170 fledged
1 12 room Trendsetter, 1 18 gourd rack, 1 28 room Trendsetter house.
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

My hummingbirds go after the martins here! Kinda funny! Lol :lol:
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Kellye
Posts: 75
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 11:21 am
Location: Kansas

:lol:
2015- 4 fledged
2016- 15 fledged
2017- 50 fledged
2018- 82 fledged
2019- 116 fledged
2020- 175 fledged
2021- 170 fledged
1 12 room Trendsetter, 1 18 gourd rack, 1 28 room Trendsetter house.
Top
Martinfarmer
Posts: 153
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 6:33 pm
Location: Guthrie KY 42234
Martin Colony History: 2015 put up a S-k house, visitors but no takers
2016 homemade Martin condo (40 nesting boxes) several visitors no takers
2017 changed crescent openings to Troyer Conley 2 openings and installed 4 super gourds with Conley2 adapters and 12 vertical Troyers.
Several nests and eggs. Hopefully will exceed one hundred eggs this year.
6-21-17 nest inspection 68 chicks and 26 eggs
6-30-17 inspection 90 chicks and a new nest with 4 eggs.
8-30-17 successfully fledged over 85 martins.

I have honeybees right under my Martin house , at times two or three honeybees will chase a single Martin. The martins don't seem to mind. They just go a little faster when a bee gets in hot pursuit.
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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

Kellye wrote:Hello Everyone! Some sort of bug chases the martins!?! It's about the size of a bee or a wasp. Has anyone else experience this?
Kellye!
I have seen that exact thing you're talking about many times, and have wondered the same thing!
They remind me of the little chase plains flying near the space shuttle during landings.
The little bugs are fast! And seem to stay right on the Martins' six, about a foot or two behind them.
I'm glad you posted this.
I've been wanting to know the same thing.
Their behavior is almost like it's some parasitic fly that has lost its grip, fell off, and is trying to get back on.
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

Maybe it's a wood bee they are super fast! It amazes me how fast they move around the perimeter of the shed!
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Kellye
Posts: 75
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2016 11:21 am
Location: Kansas

I believe it is all above because we have honey bees too, wood bees and paper wasps.
2015- 4 fledged
2016- 15 fledged
2017- 50 fledged
2018- 82 fledged
2019- 116 fledged
2020- 175 fledged
2021- 170 fledged
1 12 room Trendsetter, 1 18 gourd rack, 1 28 room Trendsetter house.
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