Morphology Reveals the Unexpected Cryptic Diversity in Ceratophyllus gallinae (Schrank, 1803) Infested Cyanistes caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758 Nest Boxes.

Purpose: The main aim of our study was to examine morphological differentiation between and within sex of hen fleas-Ceratophyllus gallinae (Schrank, 1803) population collected from Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758), inhabiting nest boxes and to determine the morphological parameters differentiating this population.

Methods: A total of 296 fleas were collected (148 females and 148 males), determined to species and sex, then the following characters were measured in each of the examined fleas: body length, body width, length of head, width of head, length of comb, height of comb, length of tarsus, length of thorax and length of abdomen.

Results: The comparison of body size showed the presence of two groups among female and male life forms of the hen flea, which mostly differed in length of abdomen, whereas the length of head and tarsus III were less variable.

[Seasonal dynamics of Ceratophyllus hirundinis (Curtis, 1826) (Siphonaptera, Insecta) in the nests of Delichon urbica (L.)].

The annual cycle of C. hirundinis was studied in 61 nests of Delichon urbica. Fleas were found in the 45 nests.