Abstract
BackgroundThe common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (L., 1758) (Passeriformes: Estrildidae) is a small passerine bird native to Sub-Saharan Africa that has been introduced into several regions of the world.ResultsIn the present paper, eight mite species (Acariformes) are reported from this host from Brazil, including three species new to science: Montesauria caravela n. sp., M. conquistador n. sp. (Proctophyllodidae), Trouessartia transatlantica n. sp., T. minuscula Gaud & Mouchet, 1958, T. estrildae Gaud & Mouchet, 1958 (Trouessartiidae), Onychalges pachyspathus Gaud, 1968 (Pyroglyphidae), Paddacoptes paddae (Fain, 1964) (Dermationidae) and Neocheyletiella megaphallos (Lawrence, 1959) (Cheyletidae). Comparative material from Africa was also studied.ConclusionsThese mites represent at least three morpho-ecological groups regarding their microhabitats occupied on the bird: (i) vane mites (Montesauria and Trouessartia on the large wing and tail feathers); (ii) down mites (Onychalges); and (iii) skin mites (Paddacoptes and Neocheyletiella). On one bird individual we found representatives of all eight mite species. Although the common waxbill was introduced to the Neotropical region almost two centuries ago, we demonstrate that it still retains its Old World acarofauna and has not yet acquired any representatives of typical Neotropical mite taxa.
Highlights
The common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (L., 1758) (Passeriformes: Estrildidae) is a small passerine bird native to sub-Saharan Africa that has been introduced into several other regions of the world [1, 2]
Eight mite species (Acariformes) belonging to five families were found on the common waxbill in Brazil: Montesauria caravela n. sp., Montesauria conquistador n. sp. (Proctophyllodidae), Trouessartia transatlantica n. sp., T. minuscula Gaud & Mouchet, 1958, T. estrildae Gaud & Mouchet, 1958 (Trouessartiidae), Onychalges pachyspathus Gaud, 1968 (Pyroglyphidae), Paddacoptes paddae (Fain, 1964) (Dermationidae) and Neocheyletiella megaphallos (Lawrence, 1959) (Cheyletidae)
The acarofauna found on Estrilda astrild from Brazil includes only typical Old World taxa, most of which are recorded for the first time in the Neotropical region
Summary
The common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (L., 1758) (Passeriformes: Estrildidae) is a small passerine bird native to Sub-Saharan Africa that has been introduced into several regions of the world. The common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (L., 1758) (Passeriformes: Estrildidae) is a small passerine bird native to sub-Saharan Africa that has been introduced into several other regions of the world [1, 2]. Along with the helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris (Linnaeus, 1858) (Galliformes: Numididae), it is among the very few African birds that have successfully adapted to the Neotropics [1, 3]. It is the only member of the large family Estrildidae (c.140 species and subspecies) that occurs in Brazil, the remaining species being restricted to Africa and Australasia [1]. Only a single feather mite species, Onychalges pachyspathus Gaud, 1968, has been
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