Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, Vol.42, No.3, December 2012 J. Egypt. Soc. Parasitol., 42(3), 2012: 525 – 533 FIRST RECORDS OF THE CHEWING LICE (PHTHIRAPTERA) ASSOCI- ATED WITH EUROPEAN BEE EATER (MEROPS APIASTER) IN SAUDI ARABIA By AZZAM EL-AHMED1, MOHAMED GAMAL EL-DEN NASSER1,4, MOHAMMED SHOBRAK2 AND BILAL DIK3 Department of Plant Protection1, College of Food and Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Department of Biology2, Science College, Ta'if University, Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, and Department of Parasitology3, Col- lege of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selçuk, Alaaddin Keykubat Kampüsü, TR-42075 Konya, Turkey. 4Corresponding author: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) migrates through Saudi Arabia annu- ally. A total of 25 individuals of this species were captured from three localities in Riyadh and Ta'if. Three species of chewing lice were identified from these birds and newly added to list of Saudi Arabia parasitic lice fauna from 160 lice individu- als, Meromenopon meropis of suborder Amblycera, Brueelia apiastri and Mero- poecus meropis of suborder Ischnocera. The characteristic feature, identification keys, data on the material examined, synonyms, photo, type and type locality are provide to each species. Key words: Chewing lice, Amblycera, Ischnocera, European bee-eater, Merops apiaster, Saudi Arabia. Introduction As the chewing lice species diversity is Few studies are available on the bird correlated with the bird diversity, the lice of migratory and resident birds of Phthiraptera fauna of Saudi Arabia ex- the Middle East. Hafez and Madbouly pected to be high as at least 444 wild (1965, 1968 a, b) listed some of the species of birds both resident and mi- chewing lice of wild and domestic gratory have been recorded from Saudi birds of Egypt. Three papers have re- Arabia Kingdom (Silsbee, 1980; Ano- ported on the chewing lice of domesti- nymous, 2005; Al-Yusef; 2006). The cated fowl in the Kingdom of Saudi majority of these birds have affinities Arabia (Abu Yaman, 1978; Aldryhim, with neighboring regions reflecting the 1991; Taula and Hussain, 1999), but importance of understanding the chew- none on the chewing lice of wild birds. ing lice fauna of the Saudi Arabia. 525 The European bee-eater Merops api- search Unit at Dirab [24o24'31.34''N, aster Linnaeus is a migratory insectivo- 46o39'36.21''E]) (Fig 1), Also. on the rous bird which breeds in southern Eu- National Wildlife Research Center near rope, in some parts of North Africa and Ta'if [21o 15'1''N, 40o 32'42'']. Live col- western Asia (Snow 1978).This species lected birds were carefully examined occurs in Saudi Arabia as migrant bird visually and any lice removed using that travels through the kingdom during forceps. its annual flight (Stagg, 1994). Migra- The bird were then placed in a fumi- tion is in the form of small groups that gation chamber using chloroform to can be easily detected around the apiar- kill remaining lice and then combed for ies where it may cause the economical removing the rest (Fig 2). The exam- losses in honey production either due ined birds were released in the same to feeding on worker honey bees or locality of capture. The collected lice restricting of bee foraging behavior were placed in 70% ethyl alcohol then (Pokhrel 2008, Alfallah et al, 2010). selected specimens were transferred to Much has been published on chewing lactic acid for two days for clearing and lice associated with the European bee- then mounted on microscopic slides eater (Price and Emerson 1977, Wil- using Puri's Media. All specimens were liams 1981, Adam 2004, Kri-stofík et photographed using a Nikon DS-Fi1 al, 2006, Adam et al, 2009), but did not camera12mp fixed on Nikon micro- mention the made of any records from scope eclipse 80i. Photoshop CS4 was Saudi Arabia. used to prepare final images. No taxonomic keys are available for The lice identifications were done the chewing lice infesting the European using Bienko (1964), Price and Emer- bee-eater. The objective of this study is son (1977), Williams (1981), and Ad- to update the knowledge of chewing am (2004). The specimens were depos- lice associated with M. apiaster, report- ited in the Plant Protection Department ing on the lice species collected from (CPPD), King Saud University, Ri- this bird in Saudi Arabia and provided yadh, the symbols used are (F) for fe- an identification key for them. male, (M) for male and (N) for nymph. Material and Methods Results A total number of 160 chewing lice Birds were collected using standard specimens were collected from 23 of mist nets (mesh: 1.8cm x 0.12mm & 25 total birds captured. Three species size: 2m x 15m) during their migratory of the chewing lice were identified: period in April and May on 2011 & Brueelia apiastri (Denny, 1842) largest 2012. The nets were placed around api- with 85 individuals, Meropoecus mer- aries at two localities near Riyadh opis (Denny, 1842) with 55 individuals (King Saud University Educational and Meromenopon meropis Clay & Farm west of Riyadh [24o44'11.99''N, Meinertzhagen, 1941 with 20 individu- 46o37'10.30''E] and the Agriculture Re- als. 526 Key to species of chewing lice infested European bee-eater: 1. Maxillary palps present; antennae capitates, 5 segmented, concealed in antennal fossae; preocular slit present usually deep and narrow, hind legs and abdominal sternites with groups of small seta ……………….....Meromenopon meropis (Fig.3) - Maxillary palps absent; Antennae filiform with 5 segments directed backward on the side of head; Preocular slit absent, third legs and abdominal sternites without such groups of setae..……………………………………………………. ………...2 2. Body elongated, head longer than broad; postgenae with one long seta; head with distinct oral groove; carina at anterior margin of head weakly develop- ed..…………………………………………………………Brueelia apiastri (Fig. 4) - Body stout, head broader than long; postgenae enlarged with more than one seta; clypeus with transparent anterior part reaches carina.Meropoecus meropis (Fig.5,6) Suborder: Amblycera Family: Menoponidae Genus: Meromenopon Clay & Meinertzhagen, 1941 Meromenopon meropis Clay & Meinertzhagen, 1941 Tamaninia rara Conci, 1941: 106. Meromenopon concii Tendeiro, 1961: 291. Known hosts: Merops apiaster L. (Type host) & Merops bullock Vieillot (Coracii- formes: Meropidae). Type: Holotype male in the Meinertzhagen Collection. Slide no. 10086. Locality: Afghanistan. This species was collected from ab- a group of small seta in ventral face of domen and under wings plumage. The femur; Abdomen oval in shape, sterni- head is slightly broader than long, oc- tes well sclerotized, from III-VI with cipital border concave with brown two groups of small seta, there is also margin, antennal fossa deep and its rows of marginal seta on the abdominal inner margin dark brown, postocular sternites that increasing laterally form- fringe thick with small hairs becoming ing sterna brushes. posteriorly continuous ending with Material examined (20): Educational longer marginal temporal setae; Pro- farm, west of Riyadh 24. IV.2011 F(5), thorax slightly broader than long well M (0), N(10);National Wild life Re- sclerotized dorsally with 8 marginal search Center 11.V.2012 F(3), M(1), seta; legs concolor, the hind ones with N(1),(CPPD). Suborder: Ischnocera Family: Philopteridae Genus: Brueelia Kéler, 1936 Corvonirmus Eichler, 1944:80. Traihoriella Ansari, 1947:290. Guimarãesiella Eichler, 1949:11. 527 Allobrueelia Eichler, 1951:36. Hirundiniella Carriker, 1963:312. Allonirmus Zlotorzycka, 1964:263. Maculinirmus Zlotorzycka, 1964:247. Brueelia apiastri (Denny, 1842) Nirmus apiastri Denny, 1842:52. Known hosts: Merops apiaster L. (Type host) (Coraciiformes: Meropidae). Type: Holotype damaged "without head" British Museum slide no. 1852.98. Locality: Belfast, Ireland. This species was usually collected tergites usually separated from the from the neck and chest plumage. The middle in both sexes; genitalia of male body dimension of this species usually is in characteristic shape that distin- larger than that of any Brueelia species guished it from any other Brueelia spe- and it characterized by triangular head cies. in outline being interiorly narrower Material examined (85): Agriculture than rest of the head, the middle and Research Unit at Dirab 10.IV.2011 lateral margin of carina interrupted, F(16), M (7), N(9); Educational farm at preantennal nodus small; the posterior west of Riyadh 24. IV.2011 F(8), M(3), lateral angles of prothorax rounded; the N(2); 20. IV.2012 F(10), M(7), N(3); abdominal segments from I-VI with National Wild life Research Center sclerotized lateral margins and its 11.V.2012 F(8), M (3), N(9),(CPPD) Genus: Meropoecus Eichler, 1940 Meropoecus meropis (Denny, 1842) Docophorus meropis Denny, 1842. Docophorus bifrons Nitzsch, 1866:116. In Hopkins & Clay 1952:225. Known hosts: Merops apiaster L. (Type host), Merops persicus persicus Pallas and Merops superciliosus L. (Coraciiformes: Meropidae). Type: British Museum. Locality: Ireland. This species is usually collected from size of head, it show some aspect of the head region and small feathers un- sexual dimorphism between male and der the bill. Head is quadrangular, female as it is rectangular in male and broader than its long, Dorsal preanten- pentagonal in female, the legs unicol- nal suture is well underlined along the orous equal in size; abdomen oval in sides of the dorsal anterior plate and shape with strongly pigmented pleu- the inner side of the marginal carina, rites, the male have characteristic geni- Antennae are filiform with long pedicel talia (Fig.5) and characteristic sperma- that longer than the flagellomeres thecal ring apparent at the posterior which are equal in size; the first thorac- female abdomen (Fig.6). ic segment is very small relative to the 528 Material examined (55): Agriculture parasitic relationship as it usually asso- research unit at Dirab 10.IV.2011 F ciated with bee-eater genera of family (11), M (7), N(5); Educational farm, Meropidae and some species of rollers west of Riyadh.