Host specificity of Strigiphilus owl lice (Ischnocera: Philopteridae), with the description of new species and host associations.

Three new species and 11 new host associations are described for the cursitans species group of the genus Strigiphilus, the only genus of Mallophaga confined to owls (Strigiformes). The new species are S. schemskei ex Bubo coromandus, S. garylarsoni ex Otus leucotis, and S. petersoni ex Ninox punctulata. This paper completes a taxonomic review of the cursitans species group and includes an updated host-parasite list. The host specificity of the group is reviewed, including features of the natural history of lice and their hosts that may have influenced the evolution of host-parasite associations. Although most members of the cursitans group are host specific, several cases of secondary transfer among ecologically related hosts are apparent. The significance of such transfers is discussed in light of attempts to employ data on host-parasite associations for host systematics.

Colpocephalum holzenthali n. sp. (Mallophaga: Menoponidae) from the barred forest-falcon Micrastur ruficollis (Falconidae) in Peru.

Colpocephalum holzenthali, a new species of chewing louse, is described from a series of lice collected in Peru from Micrastur ruficollis zonothorax, the barred forest-falcon. Colpocephalum holzenthali is most similar to members of the Colpocephalum polybori species group.

Parasites from the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) on Kyushu Island, Japan.

Two Dirofilaria ursi, six Trichodectes pinguis and numerous Haemaphysalis megaspinosa were obtained from an Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) shot in Kyushu, Japan. The presence of two parasites specific to black bears may indicate the existence of a wild population, although the bears are regarded to be extinct on Kyushu Island.

Ectoparasites of the blackbuck antelope (Antilope cervicapra).

Fifty-two free-ranging blackbuck antelope (Antilope cervicapra) from Texas were examined for ectoparasites. Two species of sucking lice (Anoplura), one species of chewing louse (Mallophaga), one species of louse fly (Diptera), and three species of ticks (Acari) were found. This is the first report of the anoplurans Linognathus cervicaprae and L. pithodes from the Western Hemisphere. The southern deer ked (Lipoptena mazamae), the winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus), and the rabbit tick (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris) are reported from blackbuck for the first time. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the mallophagan (Damalinia cornuta cornuta) were reported previously from blackbuck in Texas, the latter species under the name Tricholipeurus balanicus balanicus.

Intraspecific morphometric variability of Goniocotes chrysocephalus (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera).

Morphometric variability of G. chrysocephalus was analysed and compared between and within the groups of individuals collected from single pheasant host (idiohostal populations) and from great number of hosts belonging to the same species (synhostal). The congruence of ranges of variation of 4 characters from 3 idio- and 1 synhostal population was examined. The arithmetic means of head width and abdomen as well as total body length of males from 2 idiohostal populations were statistically different from synhostal one. On the other hand, in the females such differences were only in the head width of idiohostal populations.

[Parasites of Austrian birds of prey (Falconiformes)]. / Zur Parasitenfauma österreichischer Greifvögel (Falconiformes).

During the examination of 158 birds of prey -- Buteo buteo (85), Falco tinnunculus (30), Accipiter gentilis (19), Accipiter nisus (18), Circus aeruginosus (2), Circus pygargus (1), Pandion haliaetus (1), Pernis apivorus (1), Falco subbuteo (1) and faeces samples of Falco tinnunculus 4 protozoan species, 1 trematode species, 2 cestode species, 13 nematode species, 2 acanthocephalan species and 5 mallophaga species could be detected. In the buzzard, kestrel and goshawk a new species of Capillaria could be found and described as Eucoleus suppereri spec. nov. A new species of Synhimantus, Synhimantus (Dispharynx) falconis spec. nov. was diagnosed. The infestation frequency of endo- and ectoparasites was relatively high, whereas the infestation intensity was small or mediocre on an average. The highest rate of infestation was found with trematodes and cestodes. The significance of the analysis of crop- and stomach-cntents as a guarantee of diagnosis "psuedoparasitism" was pointed out.

Incidence of Mallophaga on poultry in Dehradun (India).

The order of abundance of different mallophagan species on poultry birds in Dehradun (India) has been found to be Menopon gallinae greater than Menacanthus cornutus greater than Menacanthus stramineus greater than Goniocotes gallinae greater than Goniodes dissimilis greater than Lipeurus caponis greater than Lipeurus lawrensis tropicalis greater than Goniodes gigas. The intensity of these species upon 1249 birds has been recorded by coding system. The correlation between the monthly incidence of different species and environmental temperature as well as R.H. has been recorded. The degree of association between four most commonly occurring combinations has also been analysed.