A new host record of Ciconiphilus decimfasciatus (Boisduval & Lacordaire, 1835) (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) in Iran with a taxonomic note and a checklist of the lice of Guilan Province

There is little information about the lice infesting birds and mammals in Guilan Province of northern Iran besides their importance in medicine and veterinary medicine. A good series of lice were collected from a road-killed great egret, Ardea alba (Ciconiiformes: Ardeidae), in Rasht City of Guilan Province in the summer of 2023. The collected lice were preserved in 80% ethanol and cleared in 10% KOH. The microscope slides of specimens were prepared using Berlese’s fluid. The chewing lice were morphologically identified as Ciconiphilus decimfasciatus (Boisduval & Lacordaire, 1835) (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the great egret, as a new host record for Iran. A taxonomic note was presented for the species. Also, a checklist of the Phthiraptera of Guilan Province as well as their hosts and distribution were presented including three suborders, four families, ten genera and 12 species. This checklist is considered preliminary for further investigation.