New data on the chewing louse fauna (Psocodea: Phthiraptera) of some wild birds in Türkiye

Highlight:

• A total of 9917 wild birds representing 99 species were examined for chewing lice during two bird-ringing programmes in Türkiye. 
• Forty-three chewing louse species were identified.
• Ten species are reported as new records for the Turkish chewing louse fauna.
• Three new host–parasite associations were documented for the first time.
• These findings substantially expand knowledge of Türkiye's avian louse fauna.

Abstract:

Chewing lice are among the most common ectoparasites of birds and are characterised by a high degree of host specificity, with many species parasitising a single host species or closely related host taxa. The material for this study consists of chewing louse specimens collected from birds that underwent ectoparasitic examination during the autumn and spring bird ringing periods conducted in Istanbul in 2025. In the present study, a total of 9917 individual birds representing 99 species, 40 families, and 16 orders were systematically examined for the presence of ectoparasites. Microscopic examination of the collected louse specimens revealed a total of 41 species, comprising 16 Amblycera and 25 Ischnocera. Among these, Brueelia kluzi Balát, 1955; Capraiella subcuspidata (Burmeister, 1838); Dennyus (Dennyus) vonarxi Büttiker, 1954; Machaerilaemus clayae (Balát, 1966); Menacanthus sinuatus (Burmeister, 1838); Nosopon lucidum (Rudow, 1869); Penenirmus albiventris (Scopoli, 1763); Penenirmus speciosus Mey, 1982; Philopterus capillatus (Złotorzycka, 1977); Philopterus rubeculae (Denny, 1842); and Picophilopterus pici (Fabricius, 1798) represent new records for the chewing louse fauna of Türkiye. In addition, new host–parasite associations were identified for M. gonophaeus (Burmeister, 1838) and M. pusillus (Nitzsch, 1866).