Menacanthus stramineus (Nitzsch, 1818)

Nasser, Mohamed, Al-Ahmed, Azzam, Shobrak, Mohammed & Aldryhim, Yousif, 2015, Identification key for chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) infesting the Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) with one new country record and new host record for Saudi Arabia, Turkish Journal of Zoology 39 (1), pp. 88-94 : 90

3.6. Menacanthus stramineus (Nitzsch, 1818) ( Figure 3 )

Eomenacanthus stramineus (Nitzsch, 1818)

Specimens examined (2): El-Hair 23/XII/1994 1(F); Riyadh bird market 8/III/2013 1(F) .

Type host: Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo L.

The chicken body louse is a well-known pest and a widespread species of chewing louse occurring on numerous Galliformes hosts. It is characterized by a pair of spine-like processes on the ventral side of the head and a pointed mesosternum. This species was first recorded from Saudi Arabia by Aldryhim (1991) from domesticated chickens. One female specimen was collected from an Indian Peafowl being sold at the Riyadh bird market in 2013.

Figures

Figure 3. Female Menacanthus stramineus. Normal image on the left and modified image on the right.