Fleas (Siphonaptera) from seabirds and their nests in mainland Norway and Spitzbergen.

Abstract

Ceratophyllus vagabundus insularis was recorded in all typical nesting cliffs in mainland Norway in nests of puffins, shags, cormorants, and kittiwakes, but not in nests of gulls. Ceratophyllus vagabundus vagabundus was recorded in Spitzbergen associated with geese and gulls. Ceratophyllus garei, the only flea species in Larus gull's nests, was present in small numbers in nests of kittiwakes and shags in the southern part of the investigation area. Mioctenopsylla arctica arctica was recorded in kittiwake nests on Spitzbergen and in one nesting cliff in the most arctic part of mainland Norway, where it also was the dominating species. C. vagabundus was reported to attack man.