Abstract
Within the bird-plant-mite system, the relationship between hummingbirds, flowers, and mites remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the degree of association between nasal mites and eight species of Andean hummingbirds in Colombia (Amazilia saucerrottei, A. tzacatl, Chalybura buffonii, Chlorostilbon mellisugus, Florisuga mellivora, Glaucis hirsutus, Phaethornis guy and P. striigularis). Over a five-month period (trapping effort 360 hours/month), a total of 178 birds were captured, from which 81 mite specimens were collected and identified as belonging to three genera (Proctolaelaps, Rhinoseius and Tropicoseius) spanning eleven species. This is the first report of its kind from Colombia on the identification of the mite species P. rabulatus, R. luteyni, R. rafinskii, T. berryi, T. colwelli, T. erro and T. uniformis and the first record of P. guy as phoretic host for Proctolaelaps rabulatus. Morphological characteristics (length of the dorsal plate, width of the dorsal plate and setae z5 length) alone failed to distinguish between mite species. The ecologic impact of this relationship on flowers with respect to nectar and pollen availability and the effect of mites on pollination by hummingbirds needs to be determined.
Highlights
Mites of the family Ascidae (Order: Mesostigmata) are commonly found on birds, with over 22 genera and 60 species having been identified (NASKRECKI; COLWELL, 1998)
We evaluated the degree of association between nasal mites and eight species of Andean hummingbirds in Colombia (Amazilia saucerrottei, A. tzacatl, Chalybura buffonii, Chlorostilbon mellisugus, Florisuga mellivora, Glaucis hirsutus, Phaethornis guy and Phaethornis striigularis (Ps). striigularis)
Over the course of five months, 124 captures and 54 recaptures were performed for 178 hummingbirds spanning eight species (Amazilia saucerrottei, A. tzacatl, Chalybura buffonii, Chlorostilbon mellisugus, Florisuga mellivora, Glaucis hirsutus, Phaethornis guy and P. striigularis)
Summary
Mites of the family Ascidae (Order: Mesostigmata) are commonly found on birds, with over 22 genera and 60 species having been identified (NASKRECKI; COLWELL, 1998) This group includes four genera of nasal mites: Lasioseius Berlese 1916, Proctolaelaps Berlese 1923, Rhinoseius Baker and Yunker 1964. Phoretic mites in hummingbirs to depart an individual host and, in some cases, synchronization with the life cycle of the host In this relationship, plants act as a transitory habitat, while birds act as a means of transportation and dispersion but not as hosts for their reproduction (HUNTER, 1972; GUERRA et al, 2010). The cospecialization of the mite - hummingbird system is a negative interaction in terms of energy for birds (COLWELL, 1995)
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