Where have all the fleas gone? Low levels of Blue Tit Parus caeruleus nests infestation.
Prevalence of flea infestation in nests of Blue Tit Parus caeruleus was analyzed and compared with these of other hole-nesting birds. Nests were collected from nestboxes prior to youngs fledging. It was found that prevalence of fleas was very low in comparison to other studies of Blue Tits nests and to other bird species. The possible reasons of this low prevalence are discussed.
Kedra
A H
AH
W.Stefański Institute of Parasitology PAS, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland.
Mazgajski
T D
TD
D000818:Animals; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000662:veterinary*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D011044:Poland; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000254:growth & development*; D020308:Songbirds / Q000469:parasitology*