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Seasonal changes in the infestation parameters of the sucking louse, Linognathoides laeviusculus (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae), infesting Richardson’s ground squirrel (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Manitoba, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2015

Matthew E.M. Yunik ,
Jane M. Waterman  and
Terry D. Galloway
Matthew E.M. Yunik*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
Jane M. Waterman
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
Terry D. Galloway
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
*
1 Corresponding author (e-mail: matt.yunik@gmail.com
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Abstract

Linognathoides laeviusculus (Grube) (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) is a louse found on holarctic ground squirrels but little is known about how the life history, physiology, and hibernation of the host influence its population dynamics. Two hundred and fourteen Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii (Sabine); Rodentia: Sciuridae) were trapped over the summer of 2010, and the age, sex, and mass of all euthanised squirrels were recorded. Squirrels were hand-washed to remove lice, which were then identified to species, stage of development, and sex. Linognathoides laeviusculus was the only louse collected. In total, 5057 lice were collected with 63.6% of the squirrels infested at a mean intensity of 37.2 (90% confidence interval=29.98–48.66). Two peaks in prevalence of L. laeviusculus infestations occurred (April and mid-June), and one peak in intensity (June). Juvenile squirrels had higher prevalence and mean intensity when compared to adults. Adult male squirrels had higher mean intensity compared to adult females. Adult lice comprised most of the population infesting emerging adult squirrels in the spring but nymphs predominated for most of the active season of the host. Infestations were highly aggregated with k=0.203 and index of discrepancy D=0.813. The seasonal dynamics of L. laeviusculus appear to be strongly correlated with the annual cycle of the squirrel host.

Résumé

Linognathoides laeviusculus (Grube) (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) est un pou signalé sur les spermophiles de la région holarctique. On connait peu de choses sur l’influence des cycles biologiques, de la physiologie et de l’hibernation des spermophiles sur la dynamique des populations de L. laeviusculus. Nous avons piégé deux cent quatorze spermophiles de Richardson (Urocitellus richardsonii (Sabine); Rodentia: Sciuridae) au cours de l’été 2010, et noté l’âge, le sexe et la masse de chacun. Les poux ont été retirés en lavant les spermophiles euthanasiés à la main. En tout, 5057 poux ont été récoltés, classés par stades de croissance, sexe, et identifiés à l’espèce. Linognathoides laeviusculus est la seule espèce de pou qui a été récoltée. La prévalence de l’infestation était de 63.6% avec une intensité moyenne de 37.2 (IC 90%=29.98–48.66). La prévalence a culminé en avril et à la mi-juin, et l’intensité a atteint son apogée en juin. Les valeurs de prévalence et d’intensité moyenne des jeunes spermophiles avaient supérieures à celle des adultes, et l’intensité moyenne était plus élevée chez les adultes mâles que chez les adultes femelles. Les spermophiles adultes émergents au printemps étaient surtout infestés par des poux adultes, mais les nymphes étaient prédominantes durant la période d’activité de l’hôte. Les répartitions des infestations étaient très contagieuses (k=0.203) avec un index de divergence (D) de 0.813. Il semble que la dynamique saisonnière des populations de L. laeviusculus soit fortement corrélée au cycle annuel de son hôte, le spermophile.

Type
Behaviour & Ecology
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 148 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 143 - 150
Copyright
© Entomological Society of Canada 2015 

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Footnotes

Subject editor: Kateryn Rochon

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