An attempt to identification of nymphal instars of biting lice (Mallophaga) using discriminant function

Discriminant analysis was used to determine the most suitable metrical characters for separating the nymphal instars within and between the following biting lice -A. p. megalosoma and U. phasiani (suborder Amblycera: Menoponoidea ) as well as L. m. maculosus and R. m. colchicus (suborder Ischnocera Lipeuridae). . It was found that dimensions of head, body length and in a few cases abdomen width were good discriminators. For the best pair of characters the equations of linear discriminant function were developed and the percentage of agreement with previous identification, based only on chaetotaxy, was estimated.