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Determinants of population biology of the chewing louse Brueelia apiastri (Mallophaga, Philopteridae) on the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2006

J. KRIšTOFÍK ,
A. DAROLOVÁ ,
C. HOI  and
H. HOI
J. KRIšTOFÍK
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
A. DAROLOVÁ
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
C. HOI
Affiliation:
Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Savoyenstraße 1a, A-1160 Vienna, Austria
H. HOI
Affiliation:
Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Savoyenstraße 1a, A-1160 Vienna, Austria
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Abstract

In this study we examine the population biology of Brueelia apiastri, a chewing louse living on the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster). We investigate the relationships between parasite intensity of infestation, sex ratio, reproductive output, parasite size and their environment i.e. the morphology, condition, age and sex of the host. Chewing lice were collected, their sex and age (developmental stage) identified and parasite body size determined as a measure of parasite condition (larger individuals consume larger meals and larger females may produce larger clutches). The data show that there is variation in intensity as well as body size of B. apiastri between individual bee-eaters and this variation is independent of the sex of the birds. However, size, condition and age of the birds seem to influence the infestation rates with B. apiastri. The study suggested size-dependent depredation, since more, smaller chewing lice (usually nymphs) living on birds in better condition and birds having longer bills. Furthermore, more male chewing lice (males are smaller than females) live on older birds. Intraspecific competition between parasites seems to have a negative effect on female but not male body size but this result could be also explained by size-dependent depredation.

Keywords

Brueelia apiastrichewing louseMerops apiasterpopulation biologyinfestation
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 134 , Issue 3 , March 2007 , pp. 399 - 403
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

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