Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 25. (Budapest, 1992)

Parasit, hung., 25: 97-105,1992 © Hungarian Society of Parasitologists Contribution to the knowledge of the flea fauna (Siphonaptera) of dormouse nests (Myoxidae) in Slovakia Dusan CYPRICH

1

, Miroslav KRUMPÁL

1 and Jozef LUKÁá

2 Department of Zoology, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina B-l, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia Institute of Zoology, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina B-2, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia (Received 26 October, 1992) Abstract: A total of 9544 specimens of Siphonaptera collected from 271 nests of three species of dormouse (Myoxidae) in 34 localities of Slovakia yielded 18 taxons. The dominant species was Ceratophyllus sciurorum (Schrank, 1803) represented by 50.9 to 97 %, followed by a group characteristic of birds, and the least abundant were species characteristic of small mammals. The differences in the occurrence of various ecological groups of fleas in Glis glis (L.) and Muscardinus avellanarius (L.) were rather significant. They attained the highest abundance in April. Key words: Siphonaptera, faunistics, Myoxidae, Glis glis, Muscardinus avellanarius, Dryomys nitedula, dormouse nests, Slovakia INTRODUCTION Dormice constitute unique ecological group of animals. Although in Slovakia they form part of numerous arboricolous rodents, they frequently evade attention because of their nocturnal and secretive way of life. As during the vegetation period they often occupy bird nests in tree hollows (eventually even consume birds) and hibernate in the life zone of other small mammals, they have great potential significance as a link in transmitting ectoparasites among birds as such, and between rodents and insectivores. Their high horizontal and, particularly, vertical mobility is also important in this respect. Their ectoparasite fauna has received scant attention so far. From Slovakia Jurik's report (1957) is the only which deals with the ectoparasites of Eliomys quercinus (L). and Glis glis (L.), obtained from the host's hair. In addition, sporadic data have