A K Saxena
Government Raza Postgraduate College, India
Title: A note on phthirapteran ectoparasites infesting black kite (Milvus migrans)
Biography
Biography: A K Saxena
Abstract
A look on literature revealed that the population characteristics of Phthiraptera infesting black kite (Milvus migrans Boddaert) deserved investigation. Thirty two kites were sampled in District Rampur (UP) India during January 2011 to December 2012, for the presence of phthirapteran ectoparasites. Two amblyceran species, Laemobothrion maximum Scopoli and Colpocephalum turbinatum Denny and one ischnoceran louse, Degeeriella regalis Giebel were recovered. The prevalence, intensity of infestation, sample mean abundance, range of infestation, sex ratios and adult nymph ratios of three lice were recorded. C. turbinatum ranked first in the order of prevalence and intensity of infestation, followed by D. regalis. The prevalence and intensity of L. maximum was quite low. The present papers supplements information on the population characteristics, egg morphology, egg laying sites and the crop contents of three phthirapteran species infesting black kite (Milvus migrans).