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We studied the breeding ecology of the Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark Eremopterix leucotis over three years between 2008 and 2010. The breeding season was bimodal with a main peak in laying in autumn (March–April) and another smaller peak in spring (September–October). Nest microhabitat analyses showed they prefer nesting in open areas with lots of bare ground (median 67.5%). Nest entrance directions were biased towards the south (mean vector (µ) = 186.44°). The majority of nests (78.2%) had an apron at the nest entrance. The mean clutch size was 1.88 but there was geographic variation in clutch size between northern and southern races of the species. The mean incubation and nestling periods were 10.33 d (range 10–11 d) and 9.20 d (range 8–10 d), respectively. The results suggest that parental contributions during incubation are almost equal, but females made significantly more food deliveries during the nestling period compared to males. The diet of nestlings comprised mainly of invertebrates (50.2%), seeds (34.4%) and unidentified food items (15.4%). Breeding success was low, averaging 16.1% (range 8.1–20.6%), and the average number of fledged young per pair was 0.36 ± 0.71. Replacement broods were commonand we also recorded repeat brooding attempts.Keywords: Alaudidae, bimodal breeding season, breeding ecology, breeding success, nestling diet, nest site characteristics, parental care, parental provisioningOSTRICH 2014, 85(1): 67–74

Cannibalism is a rare event in passerines, especially filial cannibalism. Here I report on two instances of filial cannibalism observed in the Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark Eremopterix leucotis in the Limpopo province, South Africa. In both instances it was only the females that engaged in filial cannibalism. It is suggested that a dead nestling is viewed as a waste product that must be moved from the nest as part of nest sanitation, either by carrying it from the nest or by consuming it. These events represent not only the first record of cannibalism in the Alaudidae, but also only the second record of a lark eating another vertebrate.Keywords: Alaudidae, Eremopterix leucotis, filial cannibalism, nest sanitationOSTRICH 2013, 84(3): 227–229

Myrsidea textoris Klockenhoff, 1984 Myrsidea textoris Klockenhoff, 1984: Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 35: 270. Type host: Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus (Muller) Material studied. 1 male (A. Halajian SA 19), ex Ploceus velatus (Ploceidae), South Africa: Polokwane Game Reserve, Polokwane, Limpopo Province (23 �� 58 'S, 29 �� 28 'E; 1312 m.a.s.l.), 11 February 2012, Halajian leg. Deposited in DBUL. Remarks. Our specimen differs from the original description by Klockenhoff (1984) by setal counts and dimensions as follows [setal counts and dimensions mentioned by Klockenhoff (1984) are in parentheses]: Male (n = 1). Length of DHS 10, 0.055���0.060; DHS 11, 0.085; ratio DHS 10 / 11, 0.65���0.71. Tergal setae: I, 12 (14���20); III, 18 (19���24). Postspiracular setae extremely long, 0.35���0.40, on II, IV, VIII; long, 0.33, on VII and short, 0.11���0.13, on I, III, V and VI. Sternal setae: II, 6 (10���14) anterior; III, 17 (18���24); VII, 13 (14���19); VIII, 10 (19���23); without medioanterior setae. Dimensions: POW, 0.28; HL, 0.24 (0.28���0.30); MW, 0.33 (0.34���0.38); AW, 0.41 (0.46���0.50); GW, 0.09; GL, 0.40; PAL, 0.05; TL, 1.12 (1.26���1.38)., Published as part of Halajian, Ali, Sychra, Oldrich, Luus-Powell, Wilmien & Engelbrecht, Derek, 2012, Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in South Africa, with descriptions of three new species, pp. 58-68 in Zootaxa 3442 on pages 65-66, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.214246, {"references":["Klockenhoff, H. F. (1984) Mallophagen der gattung Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 von afrikanischen Webervogeln (Ploceidae) - II. Bonner Zoologische Beitrage, 35, 269 - 284."]}

Myrsidea eisentrauti Klockenhoff, 1982 Myrsidea eisentrauti Klockenhoff, 1982: Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 33: 407. Type host: Sporopipes squamifrons (Smith) Material studied. 2 females (A. Halajian SA08���09), ex Sporopipes squamifrons (Ploceidae), South Africa: Polokwane Game Reserve, Polokwane, Limpopo Province (23 �� 58 'S, 29 �� 28 'E; 1312 m.a.s.l.), 10���11 February 2012, Halajian leg. Deposited in DBUL. Remarks. Our specimens differ from the original description presented by Klockenhoff (1982) by setal counts and dimensions as follows [setal counts and dimensions mentioned by Klockenhoff (1982) are in parentheses]: Female (n = 2). Length of DHS 10, 0.050���0.055; DHS 11, 0.095; ratio 10 / 11, 0.53���0.58. Tergal setae, with median gap in each row (quite small on tergites I���III). However, in the original drawing by Klockenhoff (1982: fig 1), there are no gaps in the rows of setae in the tergites. Tergite I: 14 (16���19). Postspiracular setae extremely long, 0.45���0.52, on II, IV, VI, VII and VIII and long, 0.30���0.40, on I, III and V. Sternal setae: II, 3 (7���11) anterior; III, 37���48 (47���76); IV, 45���69 (52���96); VII, 7���8 (8���11); VIII���IX, 9���10 (14���18); including 1���2 medioanterior setae on sternites IV���VI. Dimensions: TW, 0.46���0.47 (0.47���0.50); POW, 0.35���0.36; HL, 0.34 (0.37���0.40); MW, 0.48���0.50 (0.52���0.55); AW, 0.79���0.80 (0.82���0.91); ANW, 0.16���0.17; TL, 2.15���2.20 (2.30��� 2.47)., Published as part of Halajian, Ali, Sychra, Oldrich, Luus-Powell, Wilmien & Engelbrecht, Derek, 2012, Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in South Africa, with descriptions of three new species, pp. 58-68 in Zootaxa 3442 on page 62, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.214246, {"references":["Klockenhoff, H. F. (1982) Mallophagen der gattung Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 von afrikanischen Webervogeln (Ploceidae) I Myrsidea eisentrauti n. sp. Bonner Zoologische Beitrage, 33, 407 - 411."]}

Myrsidea mariquensis Halajian and Sychra sp. nov. (Figs. 9 ���11, 17��� 18) Type host: Bradornis mariquensis Smith���Mariqua Flycatcher Female (n = 2). As in Figs. 9 and 17. Hypopharyngeal sclerites strongly developed (Fig. 10). Length of DHS 10, 0.050���0.065; DHS 11, 0.085 ���0.100; ratio DHS 10 / 11, 0.59���0.65. Gula with 4���5 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 6 setae, metanotum not enlarged, with 6 marginal setae. Femur III with 22���25 setae in ventral setal brush. Abdomen with unenlarged tergites with almost straight posterior margin, only tergites II���III with very slight medioposterior convexity (Fig. 9). Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 5���6; II, 8; III, 10���12; IV, 10���13; V, 9; VI, 8���9; VII, 8���9; VIII, 4���6. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.38���0.43) on II, IV, VII and VIII; long (0.27��� 0.30) on I and VI and short (0.16���0.23) on III and V. Sternal setae: II, 4���5 in each aster, 13���15 marginal between asters, 8���12 anterior; III, 20���22; IV, 45���48; V, 43; VI, 31; VII, 9; VIII���IX, 7���10 marginal and 10 anterior; sternites III���VII without medioanterior setae. Anal fringe of 37���38 dorsal and 35���36 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.45��� 0.46; POW, 0.35; HL, 0.31���0.34; PW, 0.28; MW, 0.42���0.45; AW, 0.62; LSVII, 0.18; ANW, 0.19���0.20; TL, 1.55. Male (n = 1). As in Fig. 11 and 18. Length of DHS 10, 0.055; DHS 11, 0.080; ratio DHS 10 / 11, 0.69. Gula with 5��� 6 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 6 setae. Metanotum with 6 marginal setae. Femur III with 21���23 setae in ventral setal brush. Tergal setae: I, 6; II, 8; III, 12; IV, 12; V, 13; VI, 10; VII, 9; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae as for female. Sternal setae: II, 3���4 in each aster, 10 marginal between asters, 6 anterior (Fig. 11); III, 17; IV, 25; V, 29; VI, 21; VII, 13; VIII, 10; sternites III���VII without medioanterior setae. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 12. Dimensions: TW, 0.44; POW, 0.33; HL, 0.31; PW, 0.26; MW, 0.37; AW, 0.51; LSVII, 0.14; GW, 0.11; GL, 0.46; GSL, 0.055; PAL, 0.06; TL, 1.32. Type material. Holotype female (A. Halajian SA 17) ex Bradornis mariquensis (Muscicapidae), South Africa: Polokwane Game Reserve, Polokwane, Limpopo Province (23 �� 58 'S, 29 �� 28 'E; 1312 m.a.s.l.), 10���11 February 2012, Halajian leg. Paratypes: 1 female and 1 male with the same data as holotype (A. Halajian SA 18). Deposited in BMNH. Remarks. Until now, there were only two species of Myrsidea described on flycatchers (Muscicapidae):��� M. subdissimilis Uchida, 1926 from Cyanoptila cyanomelana (Temminck, 1829) in Japan (Uchida 1926) and M. proterva Złotorzycka, 1964 from Muscicapa striata (Pallas, 1764) in Poland (Złotorzycka 1964). Myrsidea mariquensis sp. nov. is well separated from both aforementioned species by a smaller number of tergal setae in the female, especially on tergite I (5���6 vs. more than 10) and tergites II���IV (each not more than 13 vs. each at least with 14). While the male of M. proterva is unknown, the male of M. mariquensis differs from that of M. subdissimilis by larger dimensions, especially TW (0.44 vs. 0.40���0.41). Etymology. The species name is derived from the specific name of the type host, a noun in apposition., Published as part of Halajian, Ali, Sychra, Oldrich, Luus-Powell, Wilmien & Engelbrecht, Derek, 2012, Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in South Africa, with descriptions of three new species, pp. 58-68 in Zootaxa 3442 on pages 64-65, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.214246, {"references":["Uchida, S. (1926) Studies on amblycerous Mallophaga of Japan. Journal of the College of Agriculture, 9, 1 - 56.","Zlotorzycka, J. (1964) Mallophaga parasitizing Passeriformes and Pici I. Subfamilies Dennyinae, Machaerilaeminae, Colpocephalinae. Acta Parasitologica Polonica, 12, 165 - 192."]}

Myrsidea eslamii Halajian and Sychra sp. nov. (Figs. 6 ���8, 15��� 16) Type host: Zoothera gurneyi (Hartlaub) ���Orange Ground-Thrush Female (n = 6). As in Fig. 15. Hypopharyngeal sclerites strongly developed (as in Fig. 10). Length of DHS 10, 0.060���0.075; DHS 11, 0.100��� 0.115; ratio DHS 10 / 11, 0.56���0.75. Gula with 4���6 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 4���5 setae, metanotum not enlarged, with 12���15 marginal setae. Femur III with 22���26 setae in ventral setal brush. Abdominal tergites as in Fig. 6 with enlarged tergites I���IV. Medial part of tergite I in form of narrow processus. Medial part of tergite II���IV very narrow with conspicuously convex posterior margin. Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 10���13; II, 16���19; III, 16���19; IV, 16���20; V, 17���22; VI, 17���21; VII, 10���13; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.42���0.53) on II, IV and VIII; long (0.33���0.40) on I and VII and short (0.18��� 0.25) on III, V and VI (in 2 females 0.31 and 0.32 on one side of tergite III). Sternal setae (Fig. 7): II, 4���5 in each aster, 17���21 marginal between asters, 2���3 anterior; III, 45���55; IV, 54���67; V, 48���61; VI, 31���45; VII, 12���18; VIII��� IX, 14���19 marginal and 11���17 anterior; including medioanterior setae on sternites III���VI: III, 7���12; IV, 5���11; V, 3��� 8; VI, 2���6. Anal fringe of 35���38 dorsal and 33���41 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.49���0.51; POW, 0.36���0.38; HL, 0.30���0.33; PW, 0.30���0.32; MW, 0.47���0.53; AW, 0.62���0.68; LSVII, 0.075���0.085; ANW, 0.23���0.25; TL, 1.55��� 1.72. Male (n = 7). As in Fig. 16. Length of DHS 10, 0.060���0.070; DHS 11, 0.095���0.115; ratio DHS 10 / 11, 0.56��� 0.68. Gula with 5���7 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 5���7 setae. Metanotum with 8���13 marginal setae. Femur III with 13���19 setae in ventral setal brush. Tergal setae: I, 7���10; II, 12���16; III, 11���16; IV, 11���15; V, 12���15; VI, 10���16; VII, 8���11; VIII, 7���8. Postspiracular setae as for female. Sternal setae: II, 3���4 in each aster, 14���17 marginal between asters, 1���2 anterior; III, 28���40; IV, 35���41; V, 34���38; VI, 28���33; VII, 10���16; VIII, 4���10; including medioanterior setae on sternites III��� IV: III, 2���6; IV, 0���3; one male also with 2 and 1 medioanterior setae on sternites V and VI, respectively. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 8. Dimensions: TW, 0.44���0.49; POW, 0.33���0.35; HL, 0.28���0.30; PW, 0.26���0.29; MW, 0.35��� 0.43; AW, 0.45���0.49; LSVII, 0.110���0.115; GW, 0.09���0.11; GL, 0.39���0.45; GSL, 0.10���0.11; PAL, 0.06���0.08; TL, 1.20���1.35. Type material. Holotype female (A. Halajian SA 11) ex Zoothera gurneyi (Turdidae), South Africa: Woodbush forest, Limpopo Province (23 ˚ 50 ' 16.9 "S, 29 ˚ 59 ' 17.8 "E), 11���12 March 2012, Halajian leg. Paratypes: 5 females and 7 males with the same data as holotype (A. Halajian SA10, 12��� 15), all deposited in BMNH. Paratypes: 1 female and 1 male with the same data as holotype (A. Halajian SA 16), deposited in DBUL. Remarks. Although Ledger (1980: 64) mentioned some Myrsidea from Turdus gurney (= Zoothera gurney) from the Transvaal (= South Africa), this is the first determination of the species of Myrsidea from this host in South Africa. This is the second species of Myrsidea from Zoothera gurney. It conspicuously differs from M. montana Clay, 1966 described from the same host from Tanganyika (Tanzania) (Clay 1966) by having non-divided tergites II���IV and smaller number of setae on tergites I (10���13 vs. 21) and VIII (8 vs. 12). The shape of the tergites in the female is almost the same as for those of M. abidae Ansari, 1956 described from Turdus fumigatus aquilonalis (Cherrie) from Venezuela and T. f. fumigatus Lischtenstein from British Guiana (Ansari 1956, Clay 1966). The female of M. eslamii sp. nov. differs from those of M. abidae by (1) smaller number of setae on tergites, especially on tergite VII (10���13 vs. 15���18), (2) larger number of setae on sternites III���V (each with 45���67 vs. 26��� 35), (3) smaller dimensions, especially TW (0.49���0.51 vs. 0.54) and (4) postspiracular seta VII as short as those on V and VI. However, the male of M. eslamii sp. nov. has the same shape of genital sac sclerite, differing from males of M. montana by a smaller number of setae on tergite I (7���10 vs. 12���16) and larger number of setae on sternites IV and V (each with 34���41 vs. 22���32), and from those of M. abidae by a smaller number of setae on tergites III���VI (each with 10���16 vs. 18���22). Etymology. This species is named in honour of Prof. Ali Eslami, Iranian Veterinary Parasitologist (University of Tehran)., Published as part of Halajian, Ali, Sychra, Oldrich, Luus-Powell, Wilmien & Engelbrecht, Derek, 2012, Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in South Africa, with descriptions of three new species, pp. 58-68 in Zootaxa 3442 on pages 62-64, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.214246, {"references":["Ledger, J. A. (1980) The Arthropod parasites of vertebrates in Africa South of the Sahara, Vol. IV, Phthiraptera (Insecta). Publication of the South African Institute for Medical Research No. 56. South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg, 327 pp.","Clay, T. (1966) Contributions towards a revision of Myrsidea Waterston. I (Menoponidae: Mallophaga). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology, 17, 327 - 395.","Ansari, M. A. R. (1956) A contribution to our knowledge of Myrsidea (Mallophaga: Amblycera) occurring on Turdidae (sens. lat.). Pakistan Journal of Health, 5, 163 - 177."]}

Myrsidea aynazae Halajian and Sychra sp. nov. (Figs. 1 ���5, 13��� 14) Type host: Phyllastrephus flavostriatus (Sharpe) ���Yellow-streaked Greenbul Female (n = 5). As in Figs. 1 and 13. Hypopharyngeal sclerites weakly developed (Fig. 2). Length of dorsal head seta (DHS) 10, 0.050���0.060; DHS 11, 0.100��� 0.110; ratio DHS 10 / 11, 0.45���0.60. Dorsal head seta 15 long with length more than 0.30. Gula with 4���6 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 4���5 setae, metanotum not enlarged, with 6 marginal setae. Femur III with 18���24 setae in ventral setal brush. Abdominal tergites as in Fig. 1 with tergites I���III somewhat enlarged and convex. Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 9���11; II, 15���17; III, 16���21; IV, 15���16; V, 15���18; VI, 16; VII, 12���15; VIII, 9���10. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.40���0.51) on II, IV and VIII; long (0.27���0.40) on I, III, VI and VII and short (0.20���0.25) on V. Sternal setae: II, 5���6 in each aster, 14���18 marginal between asters, 11���17 anterior; III, 15���21; IV, 41���44; V, 42��� 52; VI, 42���52; VII, 24���31; VIII���IX, 10���14 marginal and 12���26 anterior; sternites III���VII without medioanterior setae. Anal fringe of 34���37 dorsal and 37���43 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.45���0.47; POW, 0.31���0.32; HL, 0.30���0.31; PW, 0.30���0.31; MW, 0.44���0.46; AW, 0.63���0.66; LSVII, 0.100��� 0.115; ANW, 0.24���0.26; TL, 1.57���1.67. Male (n = 6). As in Figs. 3 and 14. Length of DHS 10, 0.050���0.065; DHS 11, 0.100��� 0.110; ratio DHS 10 / 11, 0.48��� 0.65. Dorsal head seta 15 long (0.30���0.32). Gula with 4���6 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 4 setae. Metanotum with 6���7 marginal setae. Femur III with 16���20 setae in ventral setal brush. Tergal setae: I, 7���8; II, 10���15; III, 14���18; IV, 13���20; V, 16���19; VI, 11���20; VII, 12���19; VIII, 10���12. Postspiracular setae as for female. Sternal setae: II, 4���6 in each aster, 13���20 marginal between asters, 15���18 anterior (Fig. 3); III, 15���17; IV, 37���40; V, 40���51; VI, 43���49; VII, 35���41; VIII, 19���26; sternites III���VII without medioanterior setae. Four spine-like setae posteriorly to the row of internal anal setae (Fig. 3). Genital sac sclerite as in Figs. 4 and 5. Dimensions: TW, 0.41���0.44; POW, 0.28���0.29; HL, 0.27���0.29; PW, 0.28���0.29; MW, 0.37���0.40; AW, 0.50���0.52; LSVII, 0.100; GW, 0.10���0.11; GL, 0.45���0.47; GSL, 0.08���0.10; PAL, 0.06���0.09; TL, 1.32���1.35. Type material. Holotype female (A. Halajian SA01) ex Phyllastrephus flavostriatus (Pycnonotidae), South Africa: Woodbush forest, Limpopo Province (23 ˚ 50 ' 16.9 "S, 29 ˚ 59 ' 17.8 "E), 11 March 2012, Halajian leg. Paratypes: 4 females and 6 males with the same data as holotype (A. Halajian SA02���06), all deposited in BMNH. Paratypes: 1 female and 1 male with the same data as holotype (A. Halajian SA07) deposited in DBUL. Remarks. The weakly developed hypopharyngeal sclerites place Myrsidea aynazae sp. nov. close to M. wombeyi Johnson and Price 2006 and M. marksi Johnson and Price 2006. Hellenthal and Price (2003) divided Myrsidea from bulbuls into three species groups: pycnonoti, plumosi and palmai. The three aforementioned species can be placed into a fourth group that is easily separated from the remainder by the reduction of the hypopharyngeal sclerites. We suggest the name wombeyi for this species group. Myrsidea aynazae sp. nov. can be distinguished from M. wombeyi and M. marksi by the following characteristics: (1) larger number of setae on tergites I and II of female (9���11 vs. 6 and 15���17 vs. 8���13, respectively); (2) postspiracular seta V shorter than those on VI (against M. marksi); (3) smaller dimension, especially TW (against M. wombeyi) and (4) male genital sac sclerite (Fig. 4 vs. Fig. 15 [in Johnson and Price 2006]). Etymology. This species is named after the first author`s daughter, Aynaz., Published as part of Halajian, Ali, Sychra, Oldrich, Luus-Powell, Wilmien & Engelbrecht, Derek, 2012, Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in South Africa, with descriptions of three new species, pp. 58-68 in Zootaxa 3442 on pages 60-62, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.214246, {"references":["Johnson, K. P. & Price, R. D. (2006) Five new species of Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from bristlebills and greenbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae) in Ghana. Zootaxa, 1177, 27 - 37."]}

No abstract. OSTRICH 2009, 80(2): 111–113

No Abstract.Ostrich 2008, 79(2): 239–241

Earthscan and the International Development Research Centre, London, UK231 pagesHardback ISBN 1-84407-105-7, price £70Paperback ISBN 1-84407-106-5, price £22.95African Journal of Aquatic Science 2006, 31(1): 161–162