Seasonal occurrence of Lernaea cyprinacea on fishes in Belews Lake, North Carolina.

Prevalence, abundance, and mean intensity of Lernaea cyprinacea were monitored on 3 species of fishes from June 1984 through August 1986 in Belews Lake, North Carolina. Copepods were observed parasitizing fishes only during summer, when water temperatures exceeded 25 C. Infection levels in mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and red shiners (Notropis lutrensis) were very low, but they were much higher in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Infection levels do not appear to be related to the size of the host. Host differences in parasite prevalence may be due to the host habitats.