Taxonomic, ecological and quantitative examination of chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) on Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in Manitoba, Canada

• Main Author: Grossi, Alexandra
• Other Authors: Galloway, Terry (Entomology), Sharanowski, Barbara (Entomology) Roth, Jim (Biological Science)
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Entomology; Parasitology; Canada; Branta canadensis
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23237

Over 19 years chewing lice data from Canada geese and mallards were collected. From Canada geese (n=300) 48,669 lice were collected, including Anaticola anseris, Anatoecus dentatus, Anatoecus penicillatus, Ciconiphilus pectiniventris, Ornithobius goniopleurus, and Trinoton anserinum. The prevalence of all lice on Canada geese was 92.3% and the mean intensity was 175.6 lice per bird. From mallards (n=269) 6,986 lice were collected which included: Anaticola crassicornis, A. dentatus, Holomenopon leucoxanthum, Holomenopon maxbeieri and Trinoton querquedulae. The prevalence of lice on mallards was 55.4% and the mean intensity was 42.0 lice per bird. Based on CO1, A. dentatus and Anatoecus icterodes were synonymised as A. dentatus. Anatoecus was found exclusively on the head, Anaticola was found predominantly on the wings, Ciconiphilus, Holomenopon and Ornithobius were observed in several body regions and Trinoton was found most often on the wings of mallards. February 2014