FIRST RECORDS OF THE CHEWING LICE (PHTHIRAPTERA)ASSOCIATED WITH MEROPIDAE SPECIES IN BISKRA (NORTHERNSAHARA, ALGERIA)

Studies on bird ectoparasites are little studied in Algeria. The work presented, is interested in ectoparasites attached to the families of Meropidae, namely the European Bee-eater Merops apiaster and Blue- cheeked Bee- eater Merops persicus, these two species are migratory birds that cause damage to the beekeeper. Where it consumes many bees while arriving at the breeding territory. The objective of this work, to determine the ectoparasites of these two species breeding in Algeria. The bee-eaters were captured in April 2018 by beekeepers, using glue on rocks to protect their hives. Captured individuals were transported to the laboratory
to collect the ectoparasites. The 4 bee-eaters examined were infested as follows, 3 species of ectoparasites found on the individuals belonged to the Meropidae family, namely Meromenopon meropis, Meropoecus meropis, and Meropsiella erythropteri. Keywords: Chewing lice, Merops apiaster, Merops persicus, Biskra.

Note from the author : There are mistakes about the sex of the species in the explanations of the figures.