ECTOPARASITES OF THE SPOTTED OWL

We conducted a survey of spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) ectoparasite richness by examining live and museum specimens of the three subspeci es of spotted owl. Seven ectoparasite species from five arthropod orde rs were collected. A tick (Dermacentor occidentalis), a mite (Euschoen gastia sp.), and a flea (Opisodasys vesperalis) were collected, but we re presumed to be accidental strays from prey. Strigiphilus lice were found on all the subspecies of spotted owl, while the louse Kurodaia m agna was only collected from the northern spotted owl (S. o. caurina). The hippoboscid fly Icosta americana was found on the California spot ted owl (S. o. occidentalis); this species had previously been well do cumented in the northern subspecies. The only hippoboscid By found inf esting the Mexican spotted owl (S. o. lucida) was Ornithoica vicina.