Lice, Flies, Mites, and Ticks on Raptors (Accipitriformes, Falconiformes and Strigiformes) in Rescue Centers in Central Italy

This study aims to assess the occurrence of external arthropods on deceased raptors in rescue centers Tuscany, central Italy. The examined diurnal include 17 common buzzards (Buteo buteo), two European honey (Pernis apivorus), seven sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus), six kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), a western osprey (Pandion haliaetus), and peregrine falcon peregrinus). Nocturnal included barn owls (Tyto alba), ten tawny (Strix aluco), 22 little (Athene noctua) scops (Otus scops). skin feathers each animal were examined, collected, fixed, microscopically identified. In 48 out 75 birds (64%), at least single arthropod species was found. Identified chewing lice (Degeeriella fulva, D. rufa, Colpocephalum turbinatum, C. apivorus, Nosopon lucidum, N. clayae, Craspedorrhyncus platystomus, Laemobothrion tinnunculi, Kurodaia subpachygaster, Strigiphilus cursitans), hippoboscid flies (Ornithomya avicularia), chigger feather mites (Kramerella lunulata, K. lyra, Kramerella sp., Glaucalges attenuatus, Hieracolichus nisi, Neotrombicula autumnalis) ticks (Haemaphysalis sp.). Most identified mite, fly tick are first records Moreover, this presents record sp. autumnalis P. haliaetus F. tinnunculus, respectively.