Descriptions of eight new species of feather lice in the genus Columbicola (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae), with a comprehensive world checklist.

Abstract

Eight new species of lice in the genus Columbicola Ewing are described: C. harbisoni (type host: Phaps histrionica (Gould)), C. koopae (type host: Geophaps scripta (Temminck)), C. eowilsoni (type host: Geophaps smithii (Jardine and Selby), C. wombeyi (type host: Geophaps plumnifera Gould), C. masoni (type host: Petrophassa rufipennis Collett), C. waiteae (type host: Columba leucomela Temminck), C. rodmani (type host: Geopelia humeralis (Temminck)), and C. smithae (type host: Turtur brehmeri (Hartlaub)). Also, we provide a comprehensive checklist for the 88 known species of Columbicola (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) and their pigeon and dove hosts (Aves: Columbiformes).