Abstract
Simple SummaryThe population of Lipoptena spp. continues to increase in Central Europe. Deer keds are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites. Environmental conditions play a large role in the prevalence of these insects. However, the relationship between environmental conditions and population size has not been assessed in Lipoptena fortisetosa. The objective of this study was to find a link between L. fortisetosa flights and selected weather conditions in forests. Insects were sampled, and selected climatic factors were measured. The correlations between the number of insects and the examined factors were calculated with the use of statistical methods. The results suggest that the abundance of ectoparasites is correlated with time, temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The beginning of ked flights could also be associated with variations in climatic conditions. In the future, these relationships can be used to minimize the negative impact of keds on humans, livestock and companion animals.The objective of this study was to determine the correlations between the abundance of Lipoptena fortisetosa on new potential hosts and selected temporal-microclimatic conditions in a forest at the beginning of the host-seeking period. Louse flies were collected between 6 May and 15 July of 2019 and 2020 in a natural mixed forest in Poland. Keds were collected by three investigators walking along the same forest route during each sampling session. The number of captured keds and the date (time), temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), air pressure (hPa) and wind speed (km/h) were recorded. A total of five measurements were performed during each sampling session. The influence of temporal-microclimatic conditions on the number of collected ectoparasites was evaluated with the use of a Generalized Additive Model (GAM). A total of 1995 individuals were obtained during field surveys. The results of the GAM revealed a correlation between the number of host seeking L. fortisetosa vs. time, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. An increase in temperature was most highly correlated with the abundance of louse flies in the environment.
Highlights
The presently observed climatic variations have led to changes in animal population dynamics as well as the appearance of new species in locations where they have never been known to occur [1,2,3].These processes have significantly increased the population of ectoparasites in Europe
The results of the present study suggest that ectoparasite activity could be correlated with variations in relative humidity
A thorough knowledge about the activity of L. fortisetosa is needed to address the steady increase in the population of these ectoparasites and seasonal changes in their abundance
Summary
The presently observed climatic variations have led to changes in animal population dynamics as well as the appearance of new species in locations where they have never been known to occur [1,2,3]. These processes have significantly increased the population of ectoparasites in Europe. Animals 2020, 10, 2012 of flies of the family Hippoboscidae has increased over the years. New ked migration patterns have been observed, for example, the migration of louse flies to Fennoscandia. Keds have been migrating to Fennoscandia from the southeast since the early 1960s. The northern distribution limit currently lies at approximately 65◦ N and is gradually spreading northwards [4,5]
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