title: First records of the chewing lice (Phthiraptera) associated with European bee eater (Merops apiaster) in Saudi.
abstract: The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) migrates through Saudi Arabia annually. A total of 25 individuals of this species were captured from three localities in Riyadh and Ta'if. Three species of chewing lice were identified from these birds and newly added to list of Saudi Arabia parasitic lice fauna from 160 lice individuals, Meromenopon meropis of suborder Amblycera, Brueelia apiastri and Meropoecus meropis of suborder Ischnocera. The characteristic feature, identification keys, data on the material examined, synonyms, photo, type and type locality are provide to each species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh.
authors.forename: Azzam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Ahmed
authors.forename: El-Den Nasser Mohammed
authors.initials: el-DN
authors.lastname: Gamal
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shobrak
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dik
mesh_terms: D058325:Amblycera / Q000145:classification*; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D001717:Birds; D005260:Female; D058326:Ischnocera / Q000145:classification*; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012529:Saudi Arabia