Feather Mite Genus Research Articles

A new feather mite species of the genus Mycterialges Gaud & Atyeo, 1981 (Acari, Xolalgidae) from the Oriental Stork, Ciconiaboyciana (Ciconiiformes, Ciconiidae) in Korea.

A new feather mite species, Mycterialgesboycianaesp. nov. (Xolalgidae), was identified from the Oriental Stork, Ciconiaboyciana Swinhoe, 1873, in Korea. Males of M.boycianaesp. nov. are distinguished from Mycterialgesmesomorphus Gaud & Atyeo, 1981, in having a single triangular prodorsal shield, sinuous margins of the opisthosoma located between setae e2 and h2 on the hysteronotal shield, an oval-shaped epiandrum without posterior extensions, a shorter tibia + tarsus IV than femoragenu IV, and an absent ambulacral disc of leg IV. Females differ in having a prodorsal shield with a posterior margin that is blunt-angular, and a concave posterior margin of the hysteronotal shield with posterior extensions. This study presents the first record of the feather mite genus Mycterialges in birds of the genus Ciconia (Ciconiidae). Additionally, we determined the phylogenetic relationship among Ingrassiinae using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit (COI).

A Review of the Feather Mite Genus Lopharalichus Gaud & Atyeo, 1996 (Acariformes: Pterolichidae), with Descriptions of Three New Species from Brazilian Parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae).

Feather mites of the genus Lopharalichus Gaud & Atyeo, 1996 (Pterolichidae: Pterolichinae), formerly containing three described species, are associated with New World parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) of the subfamily Arinae. Three new species of this genus are described: Lopharalichus tuimsp. nov. from Forpus xanthopterygius (Spix, 1824), L. spinosussp. nov. from Ara ararauna (Linnaeus, 1758), and L. chiririsp. nov. from Brotogeris chiriri (Vieillot, 1818). Type specimens of the previously described Lopharalichus species were examined, and a key to the known species is provided.

A new feather mite of the genus Pelargolichus (Acariformes: Pterolichidae) from the Oriental White Stork Ciconia boyciana (Ciconiiformes: Ciconiidae) in Japan

A new feather mite Pelargolichus orientalis sp. nov. is described from the Oriental White Stork, Ciconia boyciana Swinhoe, 1873, one of the world’s most endangered bird species. This mite species was collected from feathers of the Oriental White Storks bred in the Tama Zoological Park in Japan. The native population of the Oriental White Stork and feather mites associated with this bird had been extinct in Japan since 1986. Wild individuals of this bird species were transported from the Eurasian Continent to Japanese breeding facilities, and in the 2000s, a small wild population was restored. The new mite species is presently distributed in natural fields in Japan along with its introduced host population. This study presents the first record of the feather mite genus Pelargolichus in Japan.

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Acariformes: Trouessartiidae) from passerines (Passeriformes) from Asian Russia

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Astigmata: Trouessartiiidae) are described from passerine hosts from Northern Asia: Trouessartia aureolae sp. n. from the Yellow-breasted Bunting, Emberiza aureola Pallas (Emberizidae) and T. cyanoptilae sp. n. from the Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana (Temminck) (Muscicapidae). Trouessartia aureolae is very close to T. emberizae Mironov, 2021. The new species most clearly differs from T. emberizae in the following features: in males, the membranous apophyses of adanal apodemes are triangular, and the anterior ends of epimerites IVa are roughly rounded; in females, setae h1 extend to the free margin of the interlobar membrane, and the primary spermaduct guide extends to the level of setae h2. Trouessartia cyanoptilae is most similar to T. microfolia Gaud, 1952 and T. saularis Constantinescu, 2018. The new species differs from T. microfolia and T. saularis in the following features: in both sexes, setae d1 are absent; in males, the terminal lamellae are triangular with oblique posterior margin, thus, the whole posterior end of the opisthosoma resembles a fsh tail; in females, the collar of the spermathecal head is short and smooth.

On taxonomic position of the feather mite genus Lamellodectes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) with description of a new species

The feather mite genus Lamellodectes Hernandes and Valim, 2014 (Proctophyllodidae) was originally referred to the subfamily Pterodectinae based on the crucial diagnostic feature of this subfamily—the fusion of the epigynum with epimerites IIIa in females. Detailed investigation of two Lamellodectes species collected from ovenbirds (Passeriformes: Furnariidae) in Costa Rica has shown that this genus is actually close to Platyacarus Kudon, 1982 (Proctophyllodinae). Both genera have 4 ventral setae (ra, wa, la, and s) on tarsi I and II, while other proctophyllodid genera have only 3 setae (ra, wa, la). Additionally, it was found that the fusion of epigynum with epimerites IIIa in females of Lamellodectes is incomplete, as in some representatives of the proctophyllodine genera Anisophyllodes Atyeo, 1967 and Armophyllodes Mironov and Bermúdez, 2018 that gives evidence this character state has been independently developed in this genus. Herein, the genus Lamellodectes is provided with renewed diagnosis and transferred to the subfamily Proctophyllodinae; one new species, Lamellodectes favus Mironov sp. n., is described from Premnoplex brunnescens (Sclater, PL, 1856) (Passeriformes: Furnariidae) in Costa Rica.

The genus Proterothrix Gaud (Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) of China: a review of research progress

The Pterodectinae is one of the two subfamilies (Pterodectinae and proctophllodinae) in the Proctophyllodidae and its members are characterized by the continuous tips of epigynum with epimerites IIIa and IV forming a keyhole-shaped structure. The feather mite genus Proterothrix Guad, 1968 along with seven more genera, belongs to the “Phroterothrix generic group”, which is characterized by satae ps3 anterior to adanal suckers in males.

Congruent co-evolution of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Acariformes: Trouessartiidae) and endemic Malagasy warblers (Passeriformes: Bernieridae)

The feather mite genus Trouessartia (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae), with 145 known species, is the second most species-rich genus of feather mites. Species of Trouessartia are mostly associated with passerines (oscines and suboscines), with a few associations with woodpeckers. On hosts, the mites inhabit flight feathers, most commonly occurring on the secondaries and rectrices.

Two new species of feather mites (Acariformes, Astigmata) from the black-tailed godwit, Limosalimosa (Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae), in Korea.

Two new species of feather mites are described from two individuals of the black-tailed godwit, Limosalimosa (Linnaeus, 1758), in Korea: Alloptes (Conuralloptes) neolimosaesp. nov. (Analgoidea, Alloptidae) and Phyllochaetalimosaesp. nov. (Pterolichoidea, Syringobiidae). Males of A. (C.) neolimosaesp. nov. are distinguished from A. (C.) limosae in having the hysteronotal shield with a straight anterior margin, setae h2 enlarged and slightly flattened in the basal half, and the terminal lamella monotonously transparent without sclerotized patches; females differ in having legs IV with ambulacral discs extending to or slightly beyond the level of setae f2. The discovery of P.limosaesp. nov. represents the first record of the feather mite genus Phyllochaeta on godwits of the genus Limosa Brisson, 1760 (Scolopacidae, Limosinae). Males of P.limosaesp. nov. are distinguished from P.secunda in having the terminal cleft semi-ovoid with a length-to-width ratio of 1.7, and the terminal membranes with 15 or 16 finger-shaped denticles; females differ in having the hysteronotal shield bearing faint longitudinal striations in the posterior third and lacking lacunae, and setae c1 situated posterior to the level of setae c2. Additionally, we obtained partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from A. (C.) neolimosaesp. nov. and estimated genetic distances from 10 other Alloptes species based on comparisons of COI sequences.

Two new feather mites of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Acariformes: Trouessartiidae) from tyrant flycatchers (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) in Argentina

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae) in Argentina: Trouessartia salvadori sp. nov. from the White-crested Tyrannulet Serpophaga subcristata (Vieillot) and T. gonzalezacunai sp. nov. from the Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus (Boddaert). Trouessartia salvadori sp. nov. is close to T. longiducta Hernandes et Valim, 2015 and most clearly differs from the latter in having, in males, the genital apparatus with wedge-shaped hyaline extensions and the anterior genital papillae situated more distant from the midline than posterior ones, and in females, setae h1 not extending beyond the margin of the interlobar membrane, and the posterior part of the hysteronotal shield bearing well outlined ovate lacunae except in the narrow median area. Trouessartia gonzalezacunai sp. nov. is similar to T. savanae Hernandes, 2014, but is distinguished from that species in having, in males, the terminal lamellae shaped as a fishtail, the epiandrum shaped as a goblet, the apophyses of adanal apodemes represented by thick spine-like tubercles, and in females, setae h1 minute spiculiform about 10 long, and the external copulatory tube shaped as a small rounded tubercle near the margin of interlobar membrane.

The explosive radiation, intense host-shifts and long-term failure to speciate in the evolutionary history of the feather mite genusAnalges(Acariformes: Analgidae) from European passerines

AbstractMites of the genus Analges (Acariformes: Analgidae) inhabit the down feathers of passeriform birds. The evolutionary history of Analges and the co-phylogentic relationships between these mites and their hosts are unknown. Our phylogenetic analysis supported the monophyly of the genus, but it did not support previous taxonomic hypotheses subdividing the genus into the subgenera Analges and Analgopsis or arranging some species into the A. chelopus and A. passerinus species groups. Molecular data reveal seven new species inhabiting Eurasian passerines and support the existence of several multi-host species. According to molecular dating, the origin of the Analges (c. 41 Mya) coincided with the Eocene diversification of Passerida into Sylvioidea and Muscicapoidea–Passeroidea. The initial diversification of Analges took place on the Muscicapoidea clade, while remaining passerine superfamilies appear to have been colonized because of host-switching. Co-speciation appears to be relatively common among Analges species and their hosts, but the most striking pattern in the co-phylogenetic scenario involves numerous complete host-switches, spreads and several failures to speciate. The mechanism of long-term gene-flow among different populations of multi-host Analges species is enigmatic and difficult to resolve. Probably, in some cases mites could be transferred between birds via feathers used as nest material.

Two new feather mites of the genus Proctophyllodes (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines of China (Aves: Passeriformes)

Two new species of the feather mite genus Proctophyllodes (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae) are described from two passerine birds (Passeriformes) in China: Proctophyllodes scleroticus sp. nov. from the Brandt's Mountain Finch Leucosticte brandti pallidior (Fringillidae) and P. micrurus sp. nov. from the White-rumped Snow Finch Onychostruthus taczanowskii (Passeridae). Proctophyllodes scleroticus sp. nov. belongs to the tricetratus species-group, and differs from the most similar species P. petroniae Atyeo & Braasch, 1966 by the following characters: in male, the genital sheath is heavily sclerotized, peach shaped, and extending to the level of setae g, anal suckers are surrounded with a pair of membranes, and terminal lamella is relatively greater, and in female, lobar shield is divided into two independent shields by the anal opening and anal opening extends beyond the level of setae ps1, terminal appendage is long. Proctophyllodes micrurus sp. nov. belongs to the musicus species-group, and differs from the most similar species P. saltatoris Atyeo & Braasch, 1966 by the following characters: in male, genital arch and the anterior part of opisthogastric shield are about the same width, anal suckers are surrounded with a pair of membranes, genital organ extends to the anterior 1/3 of the level of setae g and setae ps3, terminal lamella are located closely to each other and slightly greater, and in female, lobar shields are medially divided into two halves, terminal appendages are small, about 1/10 of setae h3, edge of the cleft is almost horizontal.

Two new feather mites of the genus Trochilodectes Park & Atyeo (Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from hummingbirds in Colombia (Apodiformes: Trochilidae)

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trochilodectes Park & Atyeo (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) are described from hummingbirds (Apodiformes: Trochilidae) in Colombia: T. capitocaudatus sp. nov. from Ocreatus underwoodii (Lesson, 1832) and T. andinus sp. nov. from Phaethornis guy (Lesson, 1833). A key to all presently known species of the genus Trochilodectes is presented.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF THE FEATHER MITE GENUS TROUESSARTIA (ACARIFORMES: TROUESSARTIIDAE) FROM ROBINS AND CHATS (PASSERIFORMES: MUSCICAPIDAE) IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from passerine birds in Primorsky Krai (Russian Far East): Trouessartia calliope sp. n. from the Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope (Linnaeus) and T. larvivorae sp. n. from the Rufous-tailed Robin Larvivora sibilans (Swinhoe) (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae: Saxicolinae). Both new species are close to T. swidwiensis Jablonska, 1968 associated with nightingales of the genus Luscinia (Linnaeus) (Muscicapidae) in having the prohysteronotal and lobar parts of the hysteronotal shield not separated in males and in having setae h1 situated on large ovate non-sclerotized areas and in the absence of the external copulatory tube in females.

<p class="Body"><strong>Feather mites of the new genus <em>Bernierinyssus </em>gen. n. (Acariformes: Pteronyssidae) from endemic Malagasy warblers (Passeriformes: Bernieridae)—a lineage showing symbiotic cospeciation with their avian hosts</strong></p>

A new feather mite genus Bernierinyssus gen. n. (Analgoidea: Pteronyssidae), associated with endemic Malagasy warblers (Passeriformes: Bernieridae), is proposed based on morphological evidence and DNA sequence data. Within this genus, we detected six mite species, including five new species described here: Bernierinyssus angulatus sp. n. from Crossleyia xanthophrys, B. bernieriae sp. n. from Bernieria madagascariensis, B. bifenestratus sp. n. from Hartertula flavoviridis, B. randiae sp. n. from Randia pseudozosterops, B. xanthomixis sp. n. from Xanthomixis zosterops (type host) and X. cinereiceps, and B. oxylabis (Mironov and Wauthy 2005) comb. n. (transferred from Pteronyssoides Hull). Phylogenetic relationships of these mites were nearly perfectly congruent with those of their hosts, indicating that ancestral Bernierinyssus probably co-dispersed to Madagascar on the common ancestor of Malagasy warblers and then cospeciated with their hosts. Species of Bernierinyssus are well-delimited based on several lines of evidence: morphology (clear among-specific differences in discrete characters), host associations (one mite species per one host species, except for B. xanthomixis), genetic distances (large COX1 barcoding gap between among- and within-species K2P distances: 8.22¨C12.38% vs 0¨C2.9%, respectively), and molecular phylogenetics (all species are well-supported, monophyletic clades). Our study suggests that species of the genus Bernierinyssus have evolved slower than their avian hosts or co-associated feather lice. Despite the discordance in the mitochondrial DNA evolutionary rates, speciation events in mites largely corresponded to bird species divergences, resulting in a nearly perfect correlation between mite and bird species richness (Eichler's Rule). The mite B. xanthomixis was associated with two avian species, but still formed two distinct shallow lineages (COX1 distance: 1.65%) separated by the host species. The nearly strict host-specificity pattern found in Bernierinyssus contrasts with that of continental feather mites, which tend to be less host-specific and have nearly equal proportions of single-host vs multi-host species.

Morphology of genitalia and non-genitalic contact structures inTrouessartiafeather mites (Astigmata: Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae): is there evidence of correlated evolution between the sexes?

Positive correlations between the shapes of male and female sexual structures can be interpreted as cooperative or as combative. In the feather mite genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899, the spermaducts of females range from entirely internal to extending externally for varying lengths, whereas male primary genitalia range from gracile to massive. Males also possess a pair of adanal suckers used to hold onto the dorsal surface of the female during copulation. In the area of this attachment, females exhibit ornamentation and have strongly developed dorsal setae (setae h1), which we hypothesized serve to weaken the male’s hold during copulation. In male and female Trouessartia from 51 bird species, we compared female external spermaduct length and male genitalic “massiveness” and explored whether patterns of female dorsal ornamentation and (or) h1 seta size correlate with male adanal sucker size. Our results indicate that females with longer external spermaducts are associated with males with relatively massive genitalia. However, we found no significant relationship between male adanal sucker size and female ornamentation or h1 seta size. Further information regarding how the genitalia interact during sperm transfer is necessary to interpret correlations in genitalia size and strong intersexual differences in dorsal ornamentation and seta size in Trouessartia.

A NEW GENUS OF THE FEATHER MITE FAMILY PROCTOPHYLLODIDAE (ACARIFORMES: ANALGOIDEA) FROM WOODCREEPERS (PASSERIFORMES: FURNARIIDAE: DENDROCOLAPTINAE) IN THE NEOTROPICS

A new feather mite genus Dendrocolaptobius gen. n. belonging to the Nycteridocaulus generic group (Proctophyllodidae: Proctophyllodinae) is described. The genus includes two species associated with woodcreepers (Furnariidae: Dendrocopaptinae): Dendrocolaptobius cuneiformis (Mironov, 2017) comb. n. previously described from Sittasomus griseicapillus (Vieillot) in Costa Rica; and D. lepidocolapti sp. n. described herein from Lepidocolaptes souleyetii (Lafresnaye) in Panama. The new genus Dendrocolaptobius is clearly distinguished from the other genera of the Nycteridocaulus group in having an inverted genital arch and enlarged bow-shaped basal sclerite in males and the copulatory opening situated dorsally on the lobar region in females.

TWO NEW FEATHER MITES OF THE GENUS PROCTOPHYLLODES ROBIN (ACARIFORMES: PROCTOPHYLLODIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH PASSERINES (AVES: PASSERIFORMES) IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

Two new species of the feather mite genus Proctophyllodes (Proctophyllodidae: Proctophyllodinae) are described from passerines in the Primorye Territory, Russia: Proctophyllodes bochkovi sp. n. from the blue-and-white flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana (Temminck) (Muscicapidae) and P. cyanopicae sp. n. from the azure-winged magpie Cyanopica cyanus (Pallas) (Corvidae). Proctophyllodes bochkovi belongs to the caulifer species group. It differs from the most similar species, P. cotyledon Trouessart, 1899, in having the genital arch not extending to the level of epimerites IIIa, the terminal lamellae symmetrical with pennate venation and by the absence of the paragenital apodemes in males, and in having a longer lobar region (78–88 μm) in females. Proctophyllodes cyanopicae belongs to the musicus group and is readily distinguished from the most similar species, P. picae (Koch, 1841), in having the hysteronotal shield with well pronounced circular lacunae, and setae g situated closer to the level of setae ps3 than to the genital arch tips in males, and in having the terminal cleft shaped as a longitudinal rectangle 50–55 μm long in females.

Feather mites of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini (Acariformes: Trouessartiidae) from swallows (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae) in Canada.

Seven species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Astigmata: Trouessartiidae) have been recorded on swallows and martins (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae) in Manitoba (Canada). Of them, five are described as new species: Trouessartia ampulicaudata sp. n. and T. petrochelidon sp. n. from the American cliff swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Vieillot), T. bochkovi sp. n. from the tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot), and T. cryptocaudata sp. n. and T. progne sp. n. from the purple martin Progne subis (Linnaeus). A new species group stelgidopteryx, incorporating Trouessartia species living on hirundinids of the genera Progne, Tachycineta and Stelgidopteryx, is established. Renewed diagnoses of four Trouessartia species groups (appendiculata, crucifera, minutipes, and stelgidopteryx) restricted to hirundinids and a key to species recorded so far and potentially expected on swallows of North America are proposed. Host associations of Trouessartia species with swallows in North America are briefly discussed.

A new feather mite genus of the family Proctophyllodidae (Acariformes: Analgoidea) from the Olivaceus flatbill Rhynchocyclus olivaceus (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) in Panama

A new feather mite genus Armophyllodes gen. n. (Proctophyllodidae: Proctophyllodinae) is established based on two new species, Armophyllodes gracilis sp. n. (type species) and A. robustus sp. n., described from the Olivaceous flatbill, Rhynchocyclus olivaceus (Temminck) (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae), in Panama. The new genus is related to the Nycteridocaulus generic group and clearly differs from other genera in having the strongly sclerotized lateral parts of coxal fields II in both sexes, the epigynum fused with the inner tips of epimerites IIIa in females, and vestigial terminal lamellae in males. The fusion of the epigynum with epimerites is an extremely rare character state in the subfamily Proctophyllodinae; among other known members of this subfamily, it was previously known only in females of Anisophyllodes pipromorphae Atyeo, 1967. In contrast to the subfamily Pterodectinae, in all representatives of which the fusion of the epigynum with epimerites is complete and these sclerites constitute a uniformly sclerotized arch-like structure, in the two species of the genus Armophyllodes and in An. pipromorphae, the traces of fusion between these sclerites are clearly distinct. This gives evidence that the fusion of the epigynum with epimerites in pterodectines and proctophyllodines originated independently.

A systematic review of the feather mite genus Hyperpedalloptes Dubinin (Acariformes: Alloptidae) from Old World ibises (Pelecaniformes: Threskiornithidae), with descriptions of previously unknown adult morphs

Hyperpedalloptes Dubinin (Analgoidea: Alloptidae) is one of the most amazing feather mite genera due to the strong hypertrophy of legs I in males, displayed asymmetrically in some species. Each of the three known species occurs on a particular ibis species of the genus Threskiornis (Pelecaniformes: Threskiornithidae). Based on examination of type and additionally collected materials, we (re)describe previously known and newly found male morphs of Hyperpedalloptes species and describe for the first time a female of H. petazophorus (Trouessart). We found that H. titanopedes Dubinin has three discrete morphs of males; those with asymmetrically hypertrophied legs I are considered to be heteromorphs, while males with symmetrically hypertrophied legs I and males without leg hypertrophy correspond to mesomorphs and homeomorphs, respectively. The previously known morphs of H. petazophorus and H. corymbophorus (Trouessart & Neumann) with symmetrically hypertrophied legs I are treated here as mesomorphic males.