LOUSY ASSOCIATIONS: SUCKING LICE (PHTHIRAPTERA: ANOPLURA) PARASITIZING RODENTS AND LAGOMORPHS IN THE DESERT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, NEVADA.

Abstract

Seventy of 190 (37%) mammals, representing 14 rodent and 2 lagomorph species examined in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in southern Nevada, were parasitized by sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura). Twelve species of sucking lice (5 species of Hoplopleruridae, 7 species of Polyplacidae) were recorded. Nine of these louse species (Hoplopleura difficilis, Hoplopleura ferrisi, Hoplopleura onychomydis, Hoplopleura reithrodontomyis, Fahrenholzia reducta, Haemodipsus setoni, Neohaematopinus citellinus, Neohaematopinus neotomae, and Polyplax auricularis) are reported from Nevada for the first time, and Po. auricularis is recorded from Peromyscus eremicus (cactus deermouse) for the first time. Infestation prevalences, mean intensities, sex ratios, host associations, and host specificity are presented and discussed for each louse-host interaction.