Intrinsic rate of natural increase of an isochnoceran louse Goniocotes jirufti (Ansari, 1947) (Phthiraptera: Insecta)

Abstract

The ischnoceran lice, Goniocotes jirufti (Ansari, 1947) infesting the black partridge, Francolinus francolinus were reared in vitro condition (35 ± 1°C, 75-82% RH, at feather diet), to record the incubation period, adult longevity and daily egg rate. The data obtained from in vitro experimentation were used to construct the life table and to determine the intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm). The value of rm of aforesaid species was computed as 0.042. At this rate the doubling time of its population appeared to be 16.50 days. In comparison to the other species studied so far, G. jirufti seems to breed moderately.