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Ectoparasites of the Virginia opossum ( Didelphis virginiana ), Raccoon ( Procyon lotor ), and Striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) from Keith County, Nebraska

21 Introduction The ectoparasites associated with Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), raccoons (Procyon lotor) and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) have been reported from several regions within the United States. For example , ectoparasites of opossums have previously been However, there are relatively few records of ectoparasites of wild mammals from Nebraska and no detailed studies of the ectopar-asites of opossums, raccoons and striped skunks in the Great Plains region. This is unfortunate because Ne-braska is located centrally in North America and, by virtue of its location, serves as a crossroads for some eastern and western faunas (Rapp and Gates 1957). Herein, we report on ectoparasites of these three species of mammals from western Nebraska. six Virginia opossums, nine raccoons, and one striped skunk were live-trapped and killed with a 0.22 caliber rifle. The single striped skunk and six Virginia opossums were collected from the grounds of Cedar Point Biological Station , University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Keith County Nebraska. Eight raccoons were collected on and adjacent to the grounds of Cedar Point Biological Station between 41˚12. To collect ectoparasites, the fur was " blown " through and parted with hands. All ectoparasites observed were removed with watchmaker's forceps and placed into vi-als containing 70% ethanol. The fur was combed over a white pan, and the resultant debris was placed into vi-als. Adult ticks and female fleas (see Discussion) were identified in alcohol. Male fleas and the single louse were cleared in 10% potassium hydroxide, then dehydrated through an ethanol series, further cleared in xy-lene and slide-mounted in Canada balsam before they were identified using compound microscopy. Ectopar-asite specimens from this study were deposited in the Six Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), nine raccoons (Procyon lotor) and one striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) collected from Keith County Nebraska were examined for ectoparasites. All three host species were parasitized by adults of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis. Opossums were also parasitized by the flea Pulex simulans and the tiny fur mite Didelphilichus serri-fer; the latter species represents a new state record for Nebraska. Raccoons were also parasitized by P. simulans and by the lago-morph-associated flea Euhoplopsyllus glacialis affinis, whereas the skunk was also parasitized by the chewing louse Neotrichodectes mephiditis. General Ectoparasite Collection at Georgia Southern University (Department of Biology) under accession numbers L-3533 through L-3547.