Grup Balear d'Ornitologia i Defensa de la Naturalesa
Abstract
Mallophaga found on chicks of purple heron Ardea purpurea and little egret Egretta garzetta at S’Albufera de Mallorca. We describe the species of chewing lice found on ten purple heron Ardea purpurea) chicks and seven little egret Egretta garzetta chicks inspected in S’Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park (Balearic Islands, Spain) in 2008. Ardeicola leucoproctus was found on the head of one of the herons, whereas Ciconiphilus decimphastiatus was detected on the wings of two other herons and in five egrets. This is the first observation of A. leucoproctus in Europe, though it is known to parasitize the purple heron in other locations. Ciconiphilus decimphastiatus has been described parasitizing Ardeid species in the Iberian peninsula but not in the Balearic Islands. The transmission of these parasites probably follows a vertical route. The low prevalence observed, together with the detection of species typical of Ardeidae, may indicate that the birds inspected were in a condition of good health
