[Viability of chicken Mallophaga following loss of their host]

Eomenacanthus stramineus, Menopon gallinae, and Goniocoles gallinae were found to have a different locomotive ability after losing contact with their host. Speed and character of the locomotion depend on vitality, leg anatomy, locomotive mechanism, and external factors, e.g. roughness of the substrate. Viability and mortality of the three Mallophaga species were investigated on such substrates as are normally found in poultry houses. The results suggest an active infectiosity of Eomenacanthus stramineus amd a passive one of Menopon gallinae and Goniocotes gallinea among hosts.