THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRDS IN THE SETTLEMENT OF FLEAS (SUCTORIA) AND TICKS (IXODOIDEA) IN DAGESTAN

Abstract : During various seasons of 1952, 1954, 1956 and 1957 in the territory of the Dagestan ASSR in the SulakskiTerskaya and Primorskaya lowlands (Dagestan plains) and also in the foothills, the authors investigated the presence of ectoparasites on 4156 birds (154 species) and also in 167 nests of 18 species of birds. All told 9292 ticks (Ixodiodea) and 1476 fleas (Suctoria) were collected and identified. Of the 68 species of fleas and 35 species of ticks residing in Dagestan (Shatas, 1957), 12 species of fleas and 16 species of ticks were identified on birds. Based on the nature of their bond with the birds, these ectoparasites can be united in four groups: First - specific ectoparasites of birds (fleas -- C. gallinae tribulis, C. fringillae, C. spinosus and F. frontalis alatau; ticks -- A. persicus, I. frontalis and I. berlesi); second -- ticks feeding on birds primarily in immature phases (I. ricinus, H. sulcata, H. punctata, H. otophila, H. plumbeum); third -- ticks which feed on birds in the adult stages more often than in the immature phases (I. redikorzevi, R. sanguineus, R. turanicus); fourth -- fleas and ticks, not feeding on birds; their presence on the birds is accidental (fleas -- P. irritans, S. insperata, C. tesquorum, C. consimilis, C. laevicips, F. semura, M. eucta tuschkan, N. setosa and the ticks -D. marginatus, D. daghestanicus, R. pumilio, R. burs, R. rossicus). (Author)