Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T12:32:10.512Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

On the behaviour of pigeon louse, Columbicola columbae Linn. (Mallophaga)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

R. Rakshpal
R. Rakshpal
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Lucknow University, Lucknow, India
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The reactions of the pigeon louse Columbicola columbae to temperature, smell and contact have been tested in a circular, glass-walled arena divided into two halves. The thermopreferendum has been found to be between 33 and 36° C, and higher temperatures are more strongly avoided than lower ones. The louse prefers cloth that has been in contact with pigeon feathers to clean cloth. Kerosene serves as a repellant. When the louse is offered different surfaces, namely, glazed paper, tin foil, blotting paper, unglazed paper, voile, silk or wool, the woollen surface is preferred most.

Three mechanisms of orientation, klinotaxis, klinokinesis and orthokinesis appear to contribute to the normal behaviour of the louse. Under certain conditions negative orthokinesis also affects the behaviour.

Comparison of the behaviour of the pigeon louse and human louse has shown that in many respects their behaviour is similar and that their thermopreferendum depends on the body temperatures of their respective hosts.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 49 , Issue 1-2 , May 1959 , pp. 232 - 241
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1959

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alessandrini, G. (1919). I pidocohi nella profilassi del tifo esantematico. Ann. Igiene (sper.), 29, 557–98.Google Scholar
Bacot, A. (1917). A contribution to the bionomics of Pediculus humanus (vestimenti) and Pediculus capitis. Parasitology, 9, 228–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buxton, P. A. (1939). The Louse. London: Arnold and Co.Google Scholar
Gunn, D. L., Kennedy, J. S. & Pielou, D. P. (1937). Classification of taxes and kinesis. Nature, Lond., 140, 1064.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hase, A. (1915). Beiträge zu einer Biologie der Kleiderlaus (Pediculus corporis de Geer vestimenti Nitzsch.). Z. angew. Ent. 2, 265–359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hase, A. (1931). Siphunculata. Biol. Tiere Dtschl. 34, 1–58.Google Scholar
Homp, R. (1938). Warmeorientierung von Pediculus vestimenti. Z. vergl. Physiol. 26, 1–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martini, E. (1918). Zur Kenntnis des Verhaltens der Lause gegenüber Wärme. Z. angew. Ent. 4, 34–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nuttall, G. H. F. (1917). The biology of Pediculus humanus. Parasitology, 10, 80–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nuttall, G. H. F. (1919). The biology of Pedictdus humanus. Supplementary Notes. Parasitology, 11, 201–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pick, W. (1926). Über den Geruchsinn der Lause. Derm. Wschr. 83, 1020–5.Google Scholar
Weber, H. (1929). Biologische Untersuchungen an der Schweinelaus (Haematopinus suis L.) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Sinnesphysiologie. Z. vergl. Physiol. 9, 564–612.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wigglesworth, V. B. (1941). The sensory physiology of the human louse Pediculus humanus corporis De Geer (Anopleura). Parasitology, 33, 67–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar