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Ectoparasite load of monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus, Psittacidae) nestlings

2003; Volume: 14; Linguagem: Inglês

1075-4377

Rosana Aramburú, Sebastián Calvo, M. Eugenia Alzugaray, Armando Conrado Cicchino,

Study of Mite Species

Ectoparasites are an important cause of mortality, morbidity, and/or reduced fecundity in birds (Feare 1976, Duffy 1983). These risks are increased in birds, like the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), that breed in domed nests reused for several breeding seasons (Bucher 1988). Monk Parakeets are common in Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, south of Brazil, and north and center of Argentina (Collar 1997). They are the only parrots that do not nest in a cavity. Instead, they build a stick structure that can house a single nest or be a larger complex with a dozen or more separate chambers (Forshaw 1989). Nests are used as breeding chambers (since September–October) and dormitories throughout the year (Martella & Bucher 1993, Aramburu 1995). The cimicid bug Psitticimex uritui (Lent & Abalos) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) is one of the most abundant parasites of Monk Parakeet ______________ E–mail: aramburu@museo.fcnym.unlp.edu. ar nests (Aramburu 1991, Spreyer & Bucher 1998), but parasitizes only that species (Wygodzinsky 1951, Usinger 1966). Monk Parakeet nests are also parasitized by a blood–eating mite, Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese) (Acarina: Macronyssidae; Aramburu et al. 2002), a common nest parasite of passerines (Proctor & Owens 2000). Two chewing lice, Paragoniocotes fulvofasciatus (Picaglia) (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) (Cicchino & Castro 1997a), and Heteromenopon (Heteromenopon) macrurum (Eichler) (Phthiraptera: Menopodidae) (Cicchino & Castro 1997b) are permanent parasites of Monk Parakeets. The effects of above-mentioned parasites on Monk Parakeet survival and fertility are unknown (Aramburu 1998). Therefore, the objective of this paper was to determine the prevalence, abundance, degree of dispersion, and aggregation index of Psitticimex uritui, Ornithonyssus bursa, Paragoniocotes fulvofasciatus, and Heteromenopon (H.) macrurum in nestlings of this parrot species.