Fleas in nests of the White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus in Norway

Abstract

We collected nest material from six White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus nests in 2006 and from 14 nests in 2007. Eight nests were located in Hedmark, one in Akershus and 11 in Vest-Agder. In addition, we also include results from material sampled in 1922 (one nest from Nordland), 1969 (three nests from Akershus) and 1971 (one nest from Møre og Romsdal). In the material, we recorded three species of bird fleas. The hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae and the moorhen flea Dasypsyllus gallinulae were the most common ones; in addition, we found Ceratophyllus garei in one nest. In the material from one nest, we found an extremely high number of D. gallinulae, 3740 specimens dispersed out of the nest material.