Bird ectoparasites from South Farallon Island, California.

Abstract

During two visits to South Farallon Island in July 1964 and 1965 the nests and bodies (if both were accessible) of 11 species of birds and single individuals of a further 5 species, as well as 3 species of mammal, were examined for ectoparasites. Three species of Siphonaptera were collected, one host specific, another confined to passerines and the third widely distributed; 5 new host records were recorded, to which may be added a further 3 possibilities; 5 new accidental host associations were observed. Of the 14 species of Mallophaga collected, one was previously known only from a male specimen removed from a now extinct host, and a further 4 species constitute new host records. Numerous specimens of a tick were collected from the nests of Western Gulls which, it is suggested, should be known as Omithodoros sp. near denmarki. A new species of dermanyssid mite was collected from 2 sp cies of host.