Family Syringophilidae Research Articles

Corvisyringophilus, a New Genus in the Family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) and Its Phylogenetic Position among Primitive Genera.

Syringophilidae is one of the most species-rich families in the superfamily Cheyletoidea, comprising approximately 420 species across 62 genera and two subfamilies. In this paper, we propose a new genus, Corvisyringophilus, and a new species, C. krummi gen. n. et sp. n., found in the wing covert quills of the Common Raven, Corvus corax Linnaeus, in Iceland. Corvisyringophilus is placed among the primitive genera of syringophilid mites, which possess the full complement of idiosomal and leg setae. Phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characters suggests that this genus forms a sister clade to Blaszakia Skoracki & Sikora, 2008, and Charadriphilus Bochkov & Mironov, 1998, which inhabit birds of the orders Musophagiformes and Charadriiformes, respectively. The study proposes that the current distribution patterns of quill mites, based on their morphological characteristics, may result from multiple host switching followed by co-speciation events, highlighting the complex evolutionary dynamics within this family.

New taxa of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitising aquatic birds of the Faroe Islands

The paper presents descriptions of new taxa and new records of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae Lavoipierre, 1953 (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) parasitising aquatic birds in the Faroe Islands, Denmark. Sulisyringophilus jenskjeldin. gen., n. sp., is described from the northern gannet, Morus bassanus (Linnaeus) (Suliformes: Sulidae). The new genus, Sulisyringophilus, is new genus differs from the morphologically similar genus Procellariisyringophilus Schmidt and Skoracki, 2007 by the presence of lateral hypostomal teeth and leg setae vsII in females, the features which are absent in the latter. A new species Charadriphilus lymnocryptesn. sp. is described from the jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (Brünnich) (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae). Additionally, two rarely recorded species, Niglarobia ereuneti Kethley, 1970, and Creagonycha lara Kethley, 1970, are reported from two charadriiform hosts: the semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (Linnaeus) and the black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (Linnaeus), respectively.

Enigmatic host-mite relationships: Unraveling the distribution of quill mites on Birds-of-Paradise

Mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) are permanent and obligatory parasites of birds. This study presents an analysis of mite material collected from 22 avian species belonging to the family Paradisaeidae (Passeriformes), revealing the presence of four mite species belonging to four genera: Syringophiloidus attenboroughi n. sp., Peristerophila regiusi n. comb., Picobia frankei, and Gunabopicobia garylarsoni. In the present work, the genus Neoperisterophila is synonymized with the genus Peristerophila. While the genera Syringophiloidus and Picobia were expectedly found on paradisaeid birds, given their prevalence in passerines, the presence of Peristerophila and Gunabopicobia was intriguing, suggesting potential host-switching events. The specificity of these mites varies, with some showing occurrence on hosts of closely related genera and others infesting phylogenetically distant hosts. Notably, the distribution of specific mite species on the Birds-of-Paradise appears to be influenced by both long coevolutionary histories and incidental contacts between often unrelated or intergeneric hybrid species of paradisaeid birds. Furthermore, our research of 104 specimens from 22 Birds-of-Paradise species shows generally low infestation rates across the studied species, suggesting a nuanced interaction between these mites and their avian hosts. Additionally, our network analysis provides a deeper understanding of these host-parasite interactions, revealing a high level of specialization and complexity in these ecological relationships.

Diversity of Quill Mites of the Family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) Parasitizing Starlings of the Genus Lamprotornis (Passeriformes: Sturnidae)

Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) parasitizing starlings of the genus Lamprotornis Temminck (Aves: Passeriformes: Sturnidae) from the sub-Saharan region are comprehensively studied for the first time. Among them, two new species are described: (1) Syringophiloidus soponai Skoracki, Patan and Unsoeld sp. n., collected from four host species—Lamprotornis chalybaeus (Hemprich et Ehrenberg) (type host) in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia; L. superbus (Rüppell) in Kenya and Tanzania; L. chloropterus (Swainson) and L. unicolor (Shelley) both in Tanzania; (2) Syringophilopsis parasturni Skoracki, Patan and Unsoeld sp. n. collected from L. pulcher (Müller) and L. chalcurus (Nordmann), both in Senegal. Additionally, two Lamprotornis species, L. chalybaeus in Tanzania and Kenya and L. chloropterus in Kenya, are recorded as the new hosts for Picobia lamprotornis Klimovicova et al., 2004. We also discussed the diversity of the syringophilid mites associated with starlings.

Lost companions: a new quill mite species and its possible coextinction with the Carolina parakeet.

Investigations of the parasites associated with extinct avian species provide unique insights into the ecology and evolution of both hosts and their parasitic counterparts. In the present paper, a new quill mite species, Peristerophila conuropsis sp. n., belonging to the family Syringophilidae (Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) is described from the Carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis Linnaeus (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae). This new species was collected from museum dry skin of the Carolina parakeet, the only native representative of the Psittacidae in the United States, which was an abundant resident of the southeastern and midwestern states and has been extinct in the beginning of the 20th century. Comment on the current taxonomic state and host associations of the genus Peristerophila are provided. Based on the host associations and habitats occupied by Peristerophila and related genera on parrots, it is hypothesized with the high probability that P. conuropsis has been extinct along with its host.

An unexpected finding of a new species of the genus Charadriineopicobia (Acariformes, Syringophilidae) parasitizing Hydrobates tethys (Aves, Procellariiformes) from the Galápagos Islands

A new quill mite species of the family Syringophilidae and subfamily Picobiinae, Charadriineopicobia janegoodallae sp. nov., is described. It was collected from Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel Hydrobates tethys (Bonaparte), a representative of the order Procellariiformes and family Hydrobatidae. Our finding is the first record of the subfamily Picobiinae on procellariform hosts and the first record of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae collected from birds inhabiting the Galápagos Islands. Additionally, an identification key to females of all known species of Charadriineopicobia is presented. Because all other species of the genus Charadriineopicobia were found on phylogenetically distant avian hosts of the order Charadriiformes and families Charadriidae, Scolopacidae, and Laridae, we hypothesize that presence of this new mite species parasitizing H. tethys is a result of the mite switching from charadriiform hosts inhabiting the same ecological niche.

Host-Parasite Relationships of Quill Mites (Syringophilidae) and Parrots (Psittaciformes)

The family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata) includes obligatory ectoparasites, which occupy feather quills from various parts of avian plumage, where they feed and reproduce. Our study was concerned with the global fauna of syringophilid mites associated with Psittaciformes, as well as host-parasite specificity and evolution. We assumed that the system composed of quill mites and parrots represents a model group that can be used in a broader study of the relationships between parasites and hosts. In total, we examined 1524 host individuals of parrots belonging to 195 species, 73 genera, and 4 families (which constitute ca. 50% of global parrot fauna) from all zoogeographical regions where Psittaciformes occur. Among them, 89 individuals representing 81 species have been infested by quill mites belonging to 45 species and 8 genera. The prevalence of host infestations by syringophilid mites varied from 2.8% to 100% (95% confidence interval (CI Sterne method) = 0.1–100). We applied a bipartite analysis to determine the parasite-host interaction, network indices, and host specificity at the species and whole network levels. The Syringophilidae-Psittaciformes network was composed of 24 mite species and 47 host species. The bipartite network was characterized by a high network level specialization H2′ = 0.98, connectance C = 0.89, and high modularity Q = 0.90, with 23 modules, but low nestedness N = 0.0333. Moreover, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the quill mites on the generic level, and this analysis shows two distinct clades: Psittaciphilus (Peristerophila + Terratosyringophilus) (among Syringophilinae subfamily) and Lawrencipicobia (Pipicobia + Rafapicobia) (among Picobiinae). Finally, the distributions and host-parasite relationships in the system composed of syringophilid mites and parrots are discussed.

A new species of the genus Aulobia Kethley (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitizing Daphoenositta chrysoptera (Passeriformes: Neosittidae) in Australia

The small passerine family Neosittidae has never been checked under the presence of ectoparasitic mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata). Herein, we describe a new species, Aulobia sittellae n. sp., collected from the Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera (Latham). In addition to the first record of the syringophilid mites on a host representative of the family Neosittidae, it is also the first record of the genus Aulobia in the Australian region. Additionally, a key to all described Aulobia species is constructed, and the genus distribution on the hosts is briefly discussed.

Quill Mites of the Family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) Associated With the New World and African Parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) With the Description of Eight New Species

In this paper, we review the quill mite fauna of the family Syringophilidae Lavoipierre, 1953 (Acariformes: Prostigmata) associated with New World and African parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), and describe eight new species including: Neoaulobia unsoeldi Marciniak-Musial & Sikora sp. nov. from the Burrowing Parakeet Cyanoliseus patagonus in Argentina; Lawrencipicobia arini Marciniak-Musial & Sikora sp. nov. from the Black-headed Parrot Pionites melanocephalus in Surinam; L. ararauna Marciniak-Musial & Sikora sp. nov. from the Black-headed Parrot Ara ararauna in Brazil; L. touiti Marciniak-Musial & Sikora sp. nov. from the Golden-tailed Parrotlet Touit surdus in Brazil; Rafapicobia valdiviana Marciniak-Musial & Sikora sp. nov. from the Burrowing Parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus in Brazil; R. pyrrhura Marciniak-Musial & Sikora sp. nov. from the Green-cheeked Parakeet Pyrrhura molinae in Bolivia; R. xanthopterygius Marciniak-Musial & Sikora sp. nov. from the Blue-winged Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius in Brazil; and R. trainidadi Marciniak-Musial & Sikora sp. nov. from the Lilac-tailed Parrotlet Touit batavicus in Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, we note fifteen new host species and many new locality records for the previously described taxa, and provide the keys for all species associated with psittaciform birds. Finally, we discuss the host-parasite relationships between syringophilid mites and parrots.

The Occurrence of Quill Mites (Arachnida: Acariformes: Syringophilidae) on Bee-Eaters (Aves: Coraciiformes: Meropidae: Merops) of Two Sister Clades.

Simple SummaryParasitic mites of the family Syringophilidae (quill mites) represent the most diverse prostigmatan family associated with birds. Here, we aim (i) to investigate quill mites of a well-defined monophyletic clade of nine bee-eater species, containing mostly migratory African and Asian species; (ii) to establish ectoparasite geographic ranges; and (iii) to discuss patterns of host-parasite relationships and possible host-switches. We have found that despite quill mites being highly specific on the host species or genus level, host-switches may occur, particularly when the ecology of host species overlaps.We studied the quill mite fauna of the family Syringophilidae, associated with bee-eaters. We examined 273 bird specimens belonging to nine closely related species of the genus Merops, representing two phylogenetic sister clades of a monophyletic group. Our examination reveals the presence of two species of the genus Peristerophila, as follows: (1) a new species Peristerophila mayri sp. n. from Merops viridis in the Philippines, M. leschenaulti in Nepal and Sri Lanka, and M. orientalis in Sri Lanka; and (2) P. meropis from M. superciliosus in Tanzania and Egypt, M. persicus in Sudan, Tanzania, Liberia, Senegal, Kenya, and D.R. Congo, M. ornatus in Papua New Guinea, M. philippinus in Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and M. americanus in the Philippines. The prevalence of host infestations by syringophilid mites varied from 3.1 to 38.2%. The distribution of syringophilid mites corresponds with the sister clade phylogenetic relationships of the hosts, except for P. meropis associated with Merops americanus. Possible hypotheses for the host lineage shift are proposed.

Global Studies of the Host-Parasite Relationships between Ectoparasitic Mites of the Family Syringophilidae and Birds of the Order Columbiformes.

Simple SummaryMites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Cheyletoidea)—also called quill mites—are permanent and highly specialized ectoparasites of birds living inside the calamus of the various types of the feathers. In the present paper, we conducted a study focused on prevalence, host specificity, networks, and phylogeny of the syringophilid mites parasitizing on pigeon and doves (Columbiformes). We postulate that the Syringophilidae mites and Columbiformes bird system represent a model which can be used in a broader study of the relationship between hosts and parasites.The quill mites belonging to the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) are obligate ectoparasites of birds. They inhabit different types of the quills, where they spend their whole life cycle. In this paper, we conducted a global study of syringophilid mites associated with columbiform birds. We examined 772 pigeon and dove individuals belonging to 112 species (35% world fauna) from all zoogeographical regions (except Madagascan) where Columbiformes occur. We measured the prevalence (IP) and the confidence interval (CI) for all infested host species. IP ranges between 4.2 and 66.7 (CI 0.2–100). We applied a bipartite analysis to determine host–parasite interaction, network indices, and host specificity on species and whole network levels. The Syringophilidae–Columbiformes network was composed of 25 mite species and 65 host species. The bipartite network was characterized by a high network level specialization H2′ = 0.93, high nestedness N = 0.908, connectance C = 0.90, and high modularity Q = 0.83, with 20 modules. Moreover, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the quill mites associated with columbiform birds on the generic level. Analysis shows two distinct clades: Meitingsunes + Psittaciphilus, and Peristerophila + Terratosyringophilus.

Distribution of the parasitic mite Bubophilus aegolius sp. n. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) on the Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus (L) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) and the low effectiveness of infestation

The mite family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) includes permanent parasites of birds exclusively, occupying their quill feathers where they reproduce and feed on living tissue fluids, piercing the quill-wall with their long and stiletiform chelicerae. The Boreal Owl, Aegolius funereus (L.) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) is parasitised by the Bubophilus aegolius, which is a new species of syringophilid mite described herein. In our study a total of 55 Boreal Owls were examined, including birds from Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. A total of four host specimens from Poland, Switzerland, and Finland were infested by Bubophilus aegolius (index of prevalence IP = 7.3; 95% confidence interval for prevalence (Sterne’s method) CI = 2.5–17.9). In the material consisting of 14 juvenile (in the 1st calendar year) and 41 adults (in the 2nd calendar year or older) birds, only juvenile hosts were infested (IP = 28.6%; CI = 10.4–57.4). Among 3,190 examined feathers (primaries (N = 1,100), secondaries (N = 1,430), rectrices (N = 660), quill mites were found only in four feathers, each feather from a single host specimen: in two small secondaries, S12, S13, and in two middle rectrices R1. This low prevalence may be related to the solitary behaviour of owls and the marginal role of horizontal transfers of parasites between hosts. Hypothetically, the low number of infested feathers on the host indicates low effectiveness (= high mortality) during transmission, where – in each case – only one fertilised female foundress (dispersal stage) was able to transfer from the parent to the offspring and enter a new quill feather. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:66025B6E-A126-48FF-8B1A-F618265CA34D

Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) parasitizing coraciiform birds (Aves: Coraciiformes).

Three new species of the family Syringophilidae associated with birds of the pantropically distributed order Coraciiformes are described: two new species of the subfamily Picobiinae-Rafapicobia momoti sp. nov. ex the Rufous-capped Motmot Baryphthengus ruficapillus (Vieillot) (Momotidae) from Brazil, Rafapicobia brachypteraci sp. nov. ex the Rufous-headed Ground-Roller Atelornis crossleyi Sharpe (Brachypteraciidae) from Madagascar, and one new species of the subfamily Syringophilinae-Peristerophila coraciidus sp. nov. ex the Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis (Linnaeus) (Coraciidae) from Papua New Guinea. Additionally, the Collared Kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris (Boddaert) (Alcedinidae), is recorded as a new host for Peristerophila meropis Skoracki et al., 2017. In all these host families, syringophilids are recorded for the first time. Moreover, our findings represent the first records of picobiines from coraciiform birds. Currently, the fauna of quill mites associated with coraciiforms includes six species grouped in the three genera: Rafapicobia Skoracki, 2011, Peristerophila Kethley, 1970, and Syringophilopsis Kethley, 1970. All these genera seem to be typically telluravian and have been also recorded from passeriform birds.

The Distribution of Quill Mites (Betasyringophiloidus seiuri) among Flight Feathers of the Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) are permanent ectoparasites that live inside the hollow quills of feathers and use their long chelicerae to pierce the quill wall to feed on living tissue of the quill follicle. Ovenbirds (Parulidae: Seiurus aurocapilla (Linnaeus)) are host to the quill mite Betasyringophiloidus seiuri (Clark), which has been previously reported to infest only 5.1% of this host's tail feathers; however, this species has also been reported to inhabit the wing feathers of ovenbirds, but without any data on prevalence or intensity. We examined all 1,008 flight feathers from 21 dead ovenbirds from Canada for quill mites and calculated infestation parameters per feather location. Nine of the 21 birds were infested with mites (prevalence of 42.9%). Feathers with the highest prevalence were Primaries 1 and 2 and Secondaries 1, 2, and 5. Only 2 of the 9 infested birds had mites in their tail feathers; in each case, only a single feather was infested. Mean intensity was 28.4 mites/feather with a range of 2-135.6, and ∼88% of the adult mites were female. To determine if quill volume and quill wall thickness correlated with mite presence and abundance, we took quill measurements from the flight feathers of 3 additional ovenbirds. There was a strong positive correlation between quill volume and mean mite intensity. Feathers that had quill walls thicker in some areas than the mites' extended chelicerae had lower prevalences than did feathers with walls consistently thinner than the length of the chelicerae. We conclude that B. seiuri is much more likely to be found in wing than in tail feathers and that it has greater reproductive success in quills with both large volumes and thin walls; however, whether foundress mites preferentially choose to colonize these feathers requires more study.

A NEW SYRINGOPHILID MITE (ACARIFORMES: SYRINGOPHILIDAE) FROM MANAKINS (PASSERIFORMES: PIPRIDAE) IN PANAMA

A new quill mite species, Syringophilopsis bochkovi sp. n. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae), is described from two species of manakins (Passeriformes: Pipridae), Corapipo altera (type host) and Manacus vitellinus collected in Panama. Females of the new species differ from those of morphologically similar S. nitens Skoracki et Dabert, 2001 by the following features: the total body length is 960–1,010 µm (vs. 1,265–1,285 µm in S. nitens); the dorsal shields (propodonotal, hysteronotal and pygidial) and coxal fields I–IV are apunctate (vs. all these sclerites are punctate); each lateral branch of the peritremes has 11 chambers (vs. 13 chambers); and the lengths of dorsal idiosomal setae d2 and e2 are 330–350 and 330–370 µm, respectively (vs. 390–400 and 420–460 µm). Syringophilopsis bochkovi represents the first record of the family Syringophilidae on passerines of the family Pipridae.

Peristerophila nestoriae, a new species of quill mite of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) parasitizing New Zealand Kaka Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin) (Psittaciformes: Strigopidae)

ABSTRACTA new species of quill mite of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata), Peristerophila nestoriae sp. nov. from New Zealand Kaka, Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin) (Psittaciformes: Strigopidae) is described. This new species is morphologically similar to Peristerophila falcophila [Skoracki M, Hromada M, Kaszewska K, Unsoeld M. 2018. Peristerophila falcophila sp. nov., a new species and first record of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitizing birds of the order Falconiformes. Acta Parasitologica. 63:744–749. https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2018-0088], and differs from it as follow: the stylophore is 130–140 long (vs. 150–160 long); the propodonotal shield bear bases of setae ve, si, and c1 (vs. only ve and si on the propodonotal shield); fan-like setae p′ and p″ of legs III and IV with 11–13 tines (vs. 10 tines); the lengths of setae ag2 40–50 (vs. 55–70). Our finding is the first record of the presence of syringophilid mite on host of the family Strigopidae and first report of the member of Peristerophila on psittaciform birds. So far, the syringophilids mites have not been found in New Zealand.LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FB0C5B37-DF42-428C-8C81-8FA56EA67504

<p class="Body">Quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitizing birds in Germany: new host records and descriptions of two new species from Limosa lapponica (L.) (Aves: Scolopacidae)

Studies on obligatory, ectoparasitic mites of the family Syringophilidae associated with birds in Germany were scarce and scattered over the time. This paper summarizes current knowledge of German syringophilid fauna. We present new host and locality records and describe two new species: Niglarobia lapponica sp. nov. and Charadriineopicobia ristowi sp. nov. from the quill feathers of bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus) (Scolopacidae).

Niglarobia vanelli, a new species of syringophilid quill mite associated with lapwings (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae)

A new species of quill mite of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata), Niglarobia vanelli sp. nov. collected from eight species of the lapwing genus Vanellus (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae), is described: V. vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) (type host) from Germany, V. gregarius (Pallas, 1771) from Russia, V. senegallus (Linnaeus, 1766), V. albiceps Gould, 1834, V. spinosus (Linnaeus, 1758), V. crassirostris (Hartlaub, 1855), V. lugubris (Lesson, 1826), and V. coronatus (Boddaert, 1783) all from Tanzania. This new species resembles N. cursoriae Skoracki et al., 2006 and differs by having the following features: in females of N. vanelli sp. nov., each medial branch of the peritremes has 3-4 chambers (vs 2 chambers in N. cursoriae); the hysteronotal shield is not fused to the pygidial shield (vs fused); lengths of setae d2 and e2 are 55-65 and 95-120, respectively (vs 115- 140 and 130-160); and setae p' and p" of legs III and IV have 4-6 tines (vs 7 tines).

Parasitic Quill Mites of the Family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) Associated With Sub-Saharan Sunbirds (Passeriformes: Nectariniidae): Species Composition and Host-Parasite Relationships.

We investigated the quill mite fauna of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) associated with Sunbirds (Passeriformes: Nectariniidae) in the Sub-Saharan region. Six hundred eleven host individuals belonging to 52 species were examined. Syringophilid parasitization prevalence (44 hosts of 15 species) ranged from 1.4 to 75% in particular host species. In the collected material, we have found seven quill mite species and among them four are new for science: 1) Aulobia afroanthreptes Skoracki & Zmudzinski sp. nov. from Anthreptes neglectus Neumann, 1922 and Anthreptes longuemarei (Lesson, 1831), both from Tanzania; 2) Syringophiloidus nectariniae Skoracki & Zmudzinski sp. nov. from Hedydipna collaris (Vieillot, 1819) from Tanzania; 3) Aulonastus nectariniphilus Skoracki & Zmudzinski sp. nov. from Anthreptes reichenowi Gunning, 1909 from Tanzania and Nectarinia tacazze (Stanley, 1814) from Ethiopia; and 4) Picobia hedydipna Skoracki & Zmudzinski sp. nov. from Hedydipna collaris from Kenya. Representatives of the genera Aulonastus Kethley, 1970 and Syringophiloidus Kethley, 1970 are recorded on Sunbirds for the first time. The following new host species are given: Cinnyris mariquensis Smith, 1836, C. shelleyi Alexander, 1899 and C. regius Reichenov, 1893, all from Tanzania for Aulobia nectariniae Skoracki & Glowska, 2008; A. neglectus and A. longuemarei, both from Tanzania for Neoaulonastus cinnyris Klimovicova et al., 2014; Cyanomitra verreauxii (Smith, 1832) from Tanzania and Cinnyris chalybeus (Linnaeus, 1766) from South Africa for Picobia oritis Skoracki et al., 2009. Additionally, host-parasite relationships are discussed.

Quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) associated with birds of Mexico

The fauna of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Cheyletoidea) parasitizing birds in Mexico is surveyed. Three new species of the genus Syringophiloidus Kethley are described: S. amazilia sp. nov. from Amazilia candida (Bonaer & Mulsant) (Apodiformes: Trochilidae), S. cincli sp. nov. from Cinclus mexicanus Swainson (Passeriformes: Cinclidae), and S. sporophila sp. nov. from Sporophila torqueola (Bonaparte) (Passeriformes: Thraupidae). Additionally, six quill mite species are found for the first time in Mexico and several new host associations are recorded. The syringophilid fauna presently recorded in Mexico is summarized.