Seasonal activity and temporal separation of four species of fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) infesting Richardson's ground squirrels, Spermophilus richardsonii (Rodentia: Sciuridae), in Manitoba, Canada

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1310-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Robbin Lindsay ◽  
Terry D. Galloway
Keyword(s):  
Abundant Species ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Flea Species ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Temporal Separation ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Spermophilus Richardsonii ◽  
Two Peaks

Fleas were collected from Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii) livetrapped in two areas in southern Manitoba. Our objectives were to describe the seasonal activity of the fleas and determine whether peaks in mean infestation parameters for different species of fleas occurred at different times of the year. We also wanted to determine if the seasonal activity of Opisocrostis bruneri was different in the presence of other fleas on the same hosts. Activity of Richardson's ground squirrels at both locations was similar to that observed in previous studies in Canada. Opisocrostis bruneri, Oropsylla rupestris, Neopsylla inopina, and Rhadinopsylla fraterna infested ground squirrels near Darlingford, whereas only O. bruneri occurred at two Winnipeg sites. Females of all species outnumbered males during most weekly collection periods. Mean intensity of N. inopina was highest during April, when prevalence of infestation often exceeded 50%. Prevalence of R. fraterna seldom exceeded 10%; there were peaks of infestation on adult squirrels during early April and on juveniles from mid-August to the end of the season. Oropsylla rupestris was the most abundant species on squirrels at Darlingford, and peaks of prevalence and intensity of infestation occurred during April, July, and September. There were two peaks of infestation for O. bruneri, on adult squirrels in May and on juveniles during August. Patterns of activity of O. bruneri were the same for Darlingford and Winnipeg, despite the occurrence of three additional flea species on ground squirrels at Darlingford.

scholarly journals Diversity and Bionomics of Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of an Endemic Focus of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Zagora Province, Southeast of Morocco

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Zalalham Al-Koleeby ◽  
Ahmed El Aboudi ◽  
Souhail Aboulfadl ◽  
Chafika Faraj
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Light Traps ◽  
Endemic Focus ◽  
Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
June July ◽  
Two Peaks ◽  
Transmission Foci

The diversity and seasonality for sandflies were studied in 2019 at a focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Zagora province, southern Morocco. Standardized sampling with CDC light traps was used. A total of 4504 sandflies (4024 Phlebotomus and 480 Sergentomyia) was collected during the study period. Seven species belonging to genus Phlebotomus and six species of genus Sergentomyia were identified. The most abundant species were Ph. papatasi (33.6%) and Ph. longicuspis (25.7%), highlighting the risk for local disease transmission foci. The seasonal activity of sandflies extended from April to November, showing two peaks, one in June-July and one, less important, in late-September-October. Abundance was highest during the months May, June, and July and lowest in August, September, and October. Results of this study provide important baseline data for planning control interventions.

scholarly journals Seasonal changes in the infestation parameters of the sucking louse, Linognathoides laeviusculus (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae), infesting Richardson’s ground squirrel (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Manitoba, Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew E.M. Yunik ◽  
Jane M. Waterman ◽  
Terry D. Galloway
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Two Peaks ◽  
Host Influence ◽  
Urocitellus Richardsonii

AbstractLinognathoides laeviusculus (Grube) (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) is a louse found on holarctic ground squirrels but little is known about how the life history, physiology, and hibernation of the host influence its population dynamics. Two hundred and fourteen Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii (Sabine); Rodentia: Sciuridae) were trapped over the summer of 2010, and the age, sex, and mass of all euthanised squirrels were recorded. Squirrels were hand-washed to remove lice, which were then identified to species, stage of development, and sex. Linognathoides laeviusculus was the only louse collected. In total, 5057 lice were collected with 63.6% of the squirrels infested at a mean intensity of 37.2 (90% confidence interval=29.98–48.66). Two peaks in prevalence of L. laeviusculus infestations occurred (April and mid-June), and one peak in intensity (June). Juvenile squirrels had higher prevalence and mean intensity when compared to adults. Adult male squirrels had higher mean intensity compared to adult females. Adult lice comprised most of the population infesting emerging adult squirrels in the spring but nymphs predominated for most of the active season of the host. Infestations were highly aggregated with k=0.203 and index of discrepancy D=0.813. The seasonal dynamics of L. laeviusculus appear to be strongly correlated with the annual cycle of the squirrel host.

Effects of central injection of biogenic amines during arousal from hibernation

1979 ◽  
Vol 236 (3) ◽  
pp. R162-R167 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Glass ◽  
L. C. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Specific Heat ◽  
Biogenic Amines ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Spermophilus Richardsonii ◽  
Simultaneous Measurements ◽  
Apparent Specific Heat ◽  
Intracerebroventricular Injections ◽  
Made In

Simultaneous measurements of heat production (HP) and heat loss (HL) and brain and rectal temperatures were made in Richardon's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii) rewarming from hibernation at an ambient temperature of 6.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C. Calculations from HP and HL measurements from control animals showed that due to differential rewarming, there was a reduction of apparent specific heat of the animal to 0.59 cal/g. degrees C. This resulted in an energy saving of 30%. Three intracerebroventricular injections of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) of 56 microgram each at brain temperatures of 10, 20, and 30 degrees C caused initial suppression of HP and a greater overall HL, which resulted in a slower rate of arousal as compared to the controls. Injections of norepinephrine (NE) of 12.5 microgram each at similar brain temperatures caused a greater rate of HP, which resulted in a faster rate of arousal as compared to the controls. The respective actions of 5-HT and NE on thermoregulation during rewarming are similar to those in some euthermic hibernators and nonhibernating species. Our data indicated that these substances evoke thermoregulatory responses during arousal in much the same manner as during normothermia.

Circadian flight activity of Arabian sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) using a vehicle-mounted net

1996 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.M. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Activity Pattern ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Flight Activity ◽  
Circadian Activity ◽  
Light Intensities ◽  
Early Peak ◽  
Two Peaks

AbstractA vehicle-mounted net was used on 15 nights during June 1990 and 1991 in northern Oman to collect sandflies in order to identify potential vectors of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. A total of 2216 sandflies was collected comprising four species of Phlebotomus and three of Sergentomyia. Catches were made every 30 minutes between 17.00 h (2 hours before sunset) and 07.00 h (1.5 hours after sunrise). Very few flies were caught before sunset. Most flies were caught at light intensities < 0.1 lux (between 20.00 and 0.500 h), but some flight activity, particularly of males and unfed females, continued even up to 07.00 h (50,000 lux, 1.25 hours after sunrise). Females of the two most abundant species, Phlebotomus alexandri Sinton and Sergentomyia clydei Sinton were significantly more active during the first half of the night (19.00-01.00 h), but males were not. Males of S. clydei showed no clear activity pattern, while males of P. alexandri had two peaks with a decline in activity around 01.00 h. Sergentomyia tiberiadis Adler & Theodor and S. fallax Parrot similarly showed different activity patterns for the two sexes. The circadian activity of females of P. alexandri and S. clydei changed during their gonotrophic cycles. Thus unfed and gravid P. alexandri had two activity peaks during the night, but the blood-fed females were most active during the first half of the night. S. clydei activity was similar, except that the gravid flies, like the blood-fed, had an early peak of activity. Too few parous females were collected to show any clear difference in activity from the nullipars.

scholarly journals Control of plague vectors on diurnal rodents in the Sierra Nevada of California by use of insecticide bait-boxes

1960 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan M. Barnes ◽  
Leo Kartman
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Flea Species ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Sierra Nevada Mountains ◽  
Citellus Lateralis ◽  
Residual Control

Trials were conducted in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California to test the effectiveness of 10% DDT dust in insecticide bait-box stations against the fleas of native diurnal rodents. The principle host species involved were the chipmunks Eutamias amoenus and E. speciosus, and the golden-mantled ground squirrel, Citellus lateralis. The important flea species were Monopsyllus eumolpi and M. ciliatus on chipmunks, and Diamanus montanus and Oropsylla idahoensis on ground squirrels. When baited daily for 12 days and furnished with 50 g. of 10% DDT dust, the bait-box stations reduced fleas strikingly within 24 hr., but very little residual control was obtained. A second application in which boxes were baited only twice weekly but for 28 days, also resulted in rapid knockdown and a residual control still effective 42 days after removal of the bait-boxes. The effect of the DDT was apparent at a distance of 400 ft. from the nearest bait-box due to the relatively extensive home ranges of the hosts. Although, in these trials, bait-box stations were spaced 100 ft. apart, 200 ft. spacing probably would be as effective with these hosts.

Ecology of Dolichopodidae (Diptera) in a wetland habitat and their potential role as bioindicators

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Gelbič ◽  
Jiří Olejníček
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Wet Meadow ◽  
Emergence Traps ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Pan Traps ◽  
Malaise Traps

AbstractEcological investigations of long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) were carried out in wet meadow wetlands near České Budějovice, Czech Republic. Sampling was performed during the adult flies’ seasonal activity (March–October) in 2002, 2003 and 2004 using yellow pan traps, Malaise traps, emergence traps, and by sweeping. Altogether 5,697 specimens of 78 species of Dolichopodidae were collected, identified and analysed. The study examined community structure, species abundance, and diversity (Shannon-Weaver’s index - H’; Sheldon’s equitability index - E). Chrysotus cilipes, C. gramineus and Dolichopus ungulatus were the most abundant species in all three years. Species richness and diversity seem strongly affected by soil moisture.

Accelerated circannual cycles in ground squirrels, Spermophilus richardsonii, kept in constant conditions

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (8) ◽  
pp. 1765-1770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman B. Melnyk
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Metabolic Processes ◽  
Reproductive Condition ◽  
Spermophilus Richardsonii ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Circannual Cycles

Six- to 8-month cycles of food intake, body weight, moult and reproductive condition in captive Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii) kept in 12 h light: 12 h dark and 23 ± 3 °C for over a year are described. A decrease in efficiency of food utilization towards the end of the weight gain period may be associated with metabolic processes which determine an upper limit for body weight. The advantages of this species as a model for the study of spontaneous obesity are discussed.

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