Patterns in the distribution of avian lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) living on the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor.

Abstract

The lice parasite community of great grey shrike Lanius excubitor collected in NE Slovakia during 1962-1974 was quantitatively studied. Lice fauna comprised of three species: Docophorulus coarctatus, Bruelia cruciata (Ischnocera) and Lanicanthus camelinus (Amblycera). All these species were previously indicated as characteristic for that host. The prevalence of lice was high--lice were recovered from 96.3% (n=108) host specimens. Distributions of lice on the great grey shrike, a strictly territorial bird, were aggregated, indicating substantial variation in the abundance of lice. Sex ratios of lice were biased towards females and not correlated with the subpopulation size of lice on individual hosts.