Summary

This study was carried out to determine chewing lice species of waders between September-October 2009 at Lake Kuyucuk Bird Ringing Station in Kars, eastern Turkey. Fourty-one birds belonging to two families (Scolopacidae and Sternidae), five genera and the following species were examined: Chlidonias leucopterus, Gallinago gallinago, Tringa glareola, Calidris minuta, Calidris alpina, Calidris temminckii, and Philomachus pugnax. Birds were caught in mistnets, ringed, examined for ectoparasites and released unharmed. To sample chewing lice, the feathers of each bird were carefully rubbed with a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide dust, over a white piece of paper. Thereafter, birds were placed in a breathable paper bag for 5 min. All lice were collected and placed in tubes with 70 % alcohol. Lice specimens were cleared in 10 % KOH, mounted in Canada balsam and identified under binoculer light microscope. Thirty-six out of 41 birds examined (88%) were infested with at least one chewing louse species. All individuals of Chlidonias leucopterus, Calidris minuta, C. alpina, C. temminckii and Philomachus pugnax were infested, whereas 4 ou