Parasitic Copepoda from Louisiana Fresh Water Fish

Four genera and 12 species of parasitic Copepoda are reported from 12 genera and 17 species of Louisiana fish. The species of Ergasilus are the most widely distributed and numerous of the parasitic copepods in these fish. Of these E. versicolor is the most prevalent. Ictalurus furcatus, the blue cat, is host to the most species of parasitic copepods among the fish examined, one from each of the four parasitic genera found. The various bass are next; Micropterus punctulatus, the Kentucky bass, and M. salmoides, the largemouth bass, with three species each. No marked host specificity is evident. Ergasilus versicolor appeared in 8 different species of fish, while Lernaea anomala and L. cruciata were in three different species respectively.