Abstract

One hundred Eurasian Collared-Doves were mist netted in district Rampur (India) from 2010 to 2011 and subjected to delousing by fumigation method. Only three phthirapteran species e.g. Columbicola bacillus Giebel, 1866, Coloceras Taschenberg, 1882 and Hohorestiella rampurensis Bansal were recovered. The population characteristics, that is, prevalence, mean intensity, sample mean abundance, and ranges of infestation were recorded. Frequency distribution patterns of all the species were aggregated but conformed to bionomial model in case of C. bacillus. Sex ratios were skewed in favour of females in case of all the three lice. The prevalence and intensity of phthiraptera were comparative higher in summer months than winter months. The prevalences of three phthirapteran species (e.g. C. bacillus, Coloceras species and H. rampurensis) on the Eurasian Collared-Dove were 71, 13 and 16%, respectively, in district Rampur, from 2010 to 2011. The sample mean abundances remained 8.1, 1.3 and 1.6, respectively. The frequency distribution patterns of all the species were skewed but conformed to the negative binomial model in case of only one species. Sex ratios were skewed in favour of females while nymphal population exceeded over adults in case of all the three species.

Key words: Phthiraptera, Eurasian Collared-Dove lice, prevalence, ischnocera, amblycera, mallophaga.