Mites associated with the small ground finch, Geospiza fuliginosa (Passeriformes: Emberizidae), from the Galápagos Islands

Three new feather mite species (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae, Trouessartiidae) from tyrant flycatchers (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) in Brazil

Tyrannidae is the largest bird family in the world, with nearly 440 species in the Neotropical region and 146 species in Brazil. Despite numerous studies in Brazil, feather mites associated with tyrant flycatchers are still poorly surveyed. In this study, three new feather mites are described from passerines of the family Tyrannidae in Brazil: Tyrannidectes longisetus sp. n. from Elaenia chilensis Hellmayr, Tyrannidectes machetornis sp. n. from Machetornis rixosa (Vieillot), and Trouessartia pitanga sp. n. from Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus). Feather mites have been reported so far from only 19 tyrant flycatcher species in Brazil, representing only about 13% of the 146 species occurring in this country; naturally, many more mites are yet to be found on the remaining 87%. Twenty species of Trouessartia have been described from 21 hosts in this country - mostly passerines - and undetermined species have been reported from 57 host species of 16 families.

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.

First report of Dermoglyphus passerinus (Analgoidea: Dermoglyphidae) and Strelkoviacarus sp.(Analgidae: Anomalginae) in canaries (Serinus canaria domestica) in Mexico

Feather mites are the most numerous group of symbionts permanently associated to birds. They are highly specialized to particular microhabitats on their hosts and most of them may be considered as commensals, but several species are parasites. This manuscript documents for the first time a combined infestation by quill mites Dermoglyphus passerinusGaud, 1974 (Analgoidea: Dermoglyphidae) and feather mites Strelkoviacarus sp.(Analgidae: Anomalginae), in domestic canaries (Serinus canaria domestica) (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Fringillidae) in Mexico City, Mexico. Description of the case, the feather and skin lesions, and findings associated with the infection are presented. This manuscript aims to contribute to the knowledge of mite species that can affect the plumage of Serinus canaria domestica; as well as to the diagnosis and control of these infestations.

A new feather mite species of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Acarina, Trouessartiidae) - an integrative description (morphology and DNA barcoding data)

A new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Trouessartiidae) is described from the Large NiltavaNiltavagrandis (Blyth) (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae) in Northeast India (Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills, Shnongrim village). Trouessartianiltavae Constantinescu, sp. n. is morphologically closely related (no phylogenetic meaning) to T.bulligera Gaud, 1968 from Clytorhynchushamlini (Mayr) (Passeriformes: Monarchidae), sharing in males a unique character within the genus, by having setae e on legs IV hemispheroid, with spine-shaped apex. Males of the new species have the prodorsal shield without ornamentation, the prohysteronotal shield and lobar shield connected, and the terminal cleft parallel sided. Females have the posterior half of the hysteronotal shield ornamented with large ovate lacunae in central area and small elliptical lacunae marginally. To the morphological description of this new feather mite species we added sequence data on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene fragment (COI). The phylogenetic relationships between Trouessartia species are briefly discussed.

Two new species of Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Astigmata: Trouessartiidae) from passeriform birds in Brazil

Two new feather mite species of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Brazil: T. calcealgiana n. sp. from Philydor atricapillus (Wied) (Furnariidae), and T. gigaphallus n. sp. from Tyrannus melancholicus Vieillot (Tyrannidae). Both species have unique features, such as the large hook-like seta sR on trochanters III in T. calcealgiana, and the large male genitalia in T. gigaphallus, which are at least twice as long as normally found in most species of Trouessartia.

External and gastrointestinal parasites of the rufous-collared sparrow Zonotrichia capensis (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) in Chile

Abstract A total of 277 rufous-collared sparrows, Zonotrichia capensis Müller, 1776 (Emberizidae), were examined for external parasites. The birds were captured using mist nets in seven locations in northern and central Chile. Additionally, seven carcasses from central Chile (the Biobío region) were necropsied to evaluate the presence of endoparasite infection. Ectoparasites were found on 35.8% (99/277) of the examined birds and they were represented by the following arthropods: feather mites Amerodectes zonotrichiae Mironov and González-Acuña, 2014 (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae), Proctophyllodes polyxenus Atyeo and Braasch, 1966 (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae), and Trouessartia capensis Berla, 1959 (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae); a louse Philopterus sp. (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera); and ticks Amblyomma tigrinum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) and Ixodes auritulus Neumann, 1904 (Acari: Ixodidae). Two of the seven necropsied carcasses were infected with the acanthocephalan Mediorhynchus papillosus Van Cleave, 1916 (Gigantorhynchida: Gigantorhynchidae). To our knowledge, this study reports P. polyxenus, Philopterus sp., A. tigrinum, and M. papillosus for the first time for Z. capensis and expands the distributional range for T. capensis to Chile.

A new feather mite of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini 1899 (Acariformes: Trouessartiidae) from the Seychelles magpie-robin, Copsychus sechellarum (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae)

A new feather mite species, Trouessartia sechellarum sp. n. (Astigmata: Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae), is described from the Seychelles magpie-robin Copsychus sechellarum (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae), an endangered endemic passerine bird inhabiting the Seychelles Islands. The most clear features distinguishing this mite from the related species, T. microfolia Gaud, 1952, are as follows: in both sexes, setae c2 do not exceed 30 μm and are subequal in length to setae c3 and sRIII; in males, the hysteronotal shield is completely split into the prohysteronotal and lobar parts by a narrow groove, and the terminal lamellae are attenuate apically; in females, the median part of the hysteronotal shield bears numerous ovate lacunae, the terminal cleft width is approximately equal to the opisthosomal lobe width, and the collar of the spermathecal head is smooth.

Two new species of the genus Trouessartia (Acari, Trouessartiidae) from laughingthrushes (Passeriformes, Leiothrichidae)

Two new feather mite species of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini are described from laughingthrushes (Passeriformes: Leiothrichidae) captured in Meghalaya (India): Trouessartiacyanouropteraesp. n. from Actinoduracyanouroptera (Hodgson) and Trouessartiaalcippeaesp. n. from Alcippenipalensis (Hodgson). It is the first time when species of the genus Trouessartia are described from leiothrichids.

Two new feather mites of the genus Calcealges Gaud, 1952 (Acari: Trouessartiidae) from antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) in Brazil

Two new feather mites of the genus Calcealges Gaud, 1952 (Acari: Trouessartiidae) are described from antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) in Brazil: Calcealges formicivorae n. sp. from Formicivora grisea (Boddaert) and C. stymphalornithi n. sp. from Stymphalornis acutirostris Bornschein, Reinert & Teixeira. Calcealges formicivorae n. sp. differs from C. trinidadensis Orwig by having, in both sexes, the inner margin of the humeral shields deeply incised and, in females, setae d2 reaching only to the level of trochanters III. Calcealges stymphalornithi n. sp. differs from C. novimundus Orwig, 1968 by having in both sexes the posterolateral areas of the prodorsal shield with longitudinal and oblique striae; males also have the central area of hysteronotal shield without ornamentation and relatively shorter setae d2.

A new genus and species of pterodectine feather mite (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from Tod-Tyrants in Brazil (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae)

A new genus and species of feather mite, Hemitriccodectes furcatus gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from passerines of the genus Hemitriccus from Brazil: Hemitriccus furcatus, H. margaritaceiventer and H. striaticollis (Tyrannidae). The new genus belongs to the Pterodectes generic complex and most clearly differs from previously established genera of this complex by the following combination of features: trochanteral setae sRIII are present, and solenidia σ are absent from genua III. The new genus also lacks dorsal hysteroromal setae c1.

Diversity of feather mites (Acari: Astigmata) on Darwin's finches

Feather mites are a diverse group of ectosymbionts that occur on most species of birds. Although Darwin's finches are a well-studied group of birds, relatively little is known about their feather mites. Nearly 200 birds across 9 finch species, and from 2 locations on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, were dust-ruffled during the 2009 breeding season. We found 8 genera of feather mites; the most prevalent genus was Mesalgoides (53-55%), followed by Trouessartia (40-45%), Amerodectes and Proctophyllodes (26-33%), Xolalgoides (21-27%), Analges and Strelkoviacarus (0-6%), and Dermoglyphus (2-4%). There was no evidence for microclimatic effects (ambient temperature and relative humidity) on mite diversity. Host body mass was significantly correlated with mean feather mite abundance across 7 of 8 well-sampled species of finches. Certhidea olivacea, the smallest species, did not fit this pattern and had a disproportionately high number of mites for its body mass.

Ácaros plumícolas (Acari: Astigmata) em aves do Cerrado do Distrito Federal, Brasil

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar os ácaros plumícolas em aves do cerrado. O mesmo foi realizado na Fazenda Água Limpa (FAL), Distrito Federal, Brasil, entre janeiro e agosto de 2002. As aves foram capturadas com rede de neblina e anilhadas. Foram amostradas 696 aves pertencentes a 83 espécies e 25 famílias de Passeriformes e não-Passeriformes. Foram encontrados ácaros plumícolas pertencentes a cinco famílias: Analgidae, Trouessartiidae, Proctophyllodidae, Avenzoariidae e Psoroptoididae. O presente trabalho contribui com novos registros de ácaros plumícolas nos hospedeiros capturados. A família Proctophyllodidae e o gênero Pterodectes foram os mais prevalentes grupos de ácaros plumícolas coletados. Considerando todas as aves capturadas, a prevalência foi de 44,98%. As maiores prevalências (>50%) de ácaros plumícolas foram encontradas para as famílias Trochilidae, Conopophagidae, Furnariidae, Tityridae, Turdidae, Mimidae, Cardinalidae e Parulidae.