LICE AND MITES COLLECTED FROM A WOOD THRUSH (Hylocichla mustelina), A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia), A COMMON GRACKLE (Quiscalus quiscula), AND A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos) ON VACA KEY, FLORIDA

Florida’s bird fauna is species-rich with over 500 species known from the state (Greenlaw et al. 2014). Yet little to nothing is known about the ectoparasite fauna of most species; what is known was summarized by Forrester and Spalding (2003). Since then few contributions have been made to our knowledge. This note reports ectoparasites removed from three birds found dead outside a building on Vaca Key in the City of Marathon,
Monroe County, Florida (24.729984, -81.039438) and one bird killed by a moving vehicle also on Vaca Key. All birds were examined for ectoparasites and specimens were handled and prepared for study as in previous reports (Hribar and Miller 2011; Hribar 2013, 2014). Slide-mounted specimens were sent to specialists for identification.