New record of the chewing louse Myrsidea dissimilis (Kellogg, 1896) (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) parasitizing a Purple Martin, Progne subis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae) in Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

The chewing lice are obligatory ectoparasites of birds and mammals distributed worldwide. From an expedition to Comaru Island, Brazilian Amazon, a chewing louse parasitizing a Purple Martin [Progne subis (Linnaeus, 1758)], a Neotropical migrant, was collected. The specimen was slide-mounted and identified as a male of Myrsidea dissimilis (Kellogg, 1896) (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae). It represents the first record of this species in the Amazonas State and in Central Amazon.

Keywords

• lice
• ectoparasites
• swallow
• migratory birds
• Central Amazon