Taxonomic study of chewing louse (Psocodea: Insecta) Chelopistes meleagridis (Linnaeus, 1758) infesting turkeyfowls (Ischnocera: Philopteridae) from Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46568/bios.v6i1-2.231Keywords:
Ichnocera, Philopteridae, Insecta, , Turkey fowl, , Taxonomy, HyderabadAbstract
Chewing louse (Psocodae: Insecta) Chelopistes meleagridis (Linnaeus, 1758) is usually called turkey louse. It was most prevalent species of turkey fowl Meleagris gallopavo (Linnaeus, 1758). It belongs to suborder of Phthiraptera (Ichnocera: Philopterodae). Chewing louse Chelopistes meleagridis (Linnaeus, 1758) was less occurring parasite and rare species of Turkey fowl Meleagris gallopavo (Linnaeus, 1758). The parasitic insect was less active, slow moving and remain attached to hairy feathers of hosts. 08 host birds were investigated for collection and identification of lice. 21 parasites were found from the body of the hosts. The prevalence of parasite causing irritation, insanity, madness, annoyance, botheration and angry behavior in hosts. The increased population density of Chelopistes meleagridis (Linnaeus, 1758) on hosts body causes sever infestation, including, weakness, anemia, loss of feathers and reduced eggs and meat production, The collection, preservation and taxonomic studies of louse was conducted during August 2022 to September 2023. The chewing louse was large, broad and appeared brownish yellow in color. It was peculiar species with head prolonged far behind the occidental margin. The prevalence and taxonomic study of Chelopistes meleagridis (Linnaeus, 1758) was described in detail first time from reported area Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.
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