Infestation of nests of sand martin, Riparia riparia (Aves: Passeriformes) with Ixodes lividus ticks in Lithuania

Abstract

Birds have frequently been studied for their ectoparasites. High infestation rates may have negative effects on the birds’ lives, by: causing juvenile mortality, altering mating and nutrition habits, anting behaviour, nest and nestling abandonment, and avoidance of nesting sites abundant with parasites. Field studies were carried out to examine hatching in sand martin and their nests infestation with ticks. In 2013 and in 2015 forty sand martin nest from two different locations in Lithuania were collected and examined for the presence of ticks. Microscopic and morphometric analyses were performed to identify the collected ticks to the species level. A total of 2767 ticks (4 females, 7 nymphs, 1 male, and 2755 larvae) were identified as I. lividus. The infestation of nests ranged in different locations and years from 30% to 60%, respectively. The presently reported study is the first survey targeting tick infestation of nests of sand martin (Riparia riparia) in Lithuania and it constitutes the first record of I. lividus ticks in nests on this species of bird.