FIRST ACCOUNT OF ARTHROPODS IN THE NEST OF THE WHITE STORK, CICONIA CICONIA, IN ALGERIA, INCLUDING THE FLEA CTENOCEPHALIDES FELIS (original) (raw)

We collected twelve nests of the white stork Ciconia ciconia from the wetland of El-Tarf in the extreme northeast of Algeria during 2008 and 2009, between September and November. The nests were carefully dislocated to collect the different arthropod species contained either at the surface of the nest or in the material used to build the nest. We found 159 mites, belonging to Mesostigmata, Uropodina (150) and Sejidae, Sejina (9). We also found 2 pseudoscorpions, 1 chewing louse (Mallophaga, Laemobothriidae) and, for the first time in nests of white storks, the flea Ctenocephalides felis (4 specimens). The remainder were ant heads, beetle heads of Carabidae and Histeridae, immature Anthocoris bugs (Heteroptera) and woodlice (Isopoda).