Feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) associated with birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The present study reports associations between feather mites (Astigmata) and birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Rio Grande do Norte state, in Brazil. In the laboratory, mites were collected through visual examination of freshly killed birds. Overall, 172 individuals from 38 bird species were examined, between October 2011 and July 2012. The prevalence of feather mites was 80.8%, corresponding to 139 infested individuals distributed into 30 species and 15 families of hosts. Fifteen feather mite taxa could be identified to the species level, sixteen to the genus level and three to the subfamily level, distributed into the families Analgidae, Proctophyllodidae, Psoroptoididae, Pteronyssidae, Xolalgidae, Trouessartiidae, Falculiferidae and Gabuciniidae. Hitherto unknown associations between feather mites and birds were recorded for eleven taxa identified to the species level, and nine taxa were recorded for the first time in Brazil. The number of new geographic records, as well as the hitherto unknown mite-host associations, supports the high estimates of diversity for feather mites of Brazil and show the need for research to increase knowledge of plumicole mites in the Neotropical region.

From unwanted squatters to good tenants: Ectosymbionts and their relationships with body condition of Atlantic Forest Passeriformes

“…2005; Silva et al . 2015). Ticks and chigger mite prevalences and infestation intensities are also consistent with existing literature (e.g.…”

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

“…Hernandes and Valim (2015) suggested that this genus could possibly include over 500 species. Barreto et al (2012) found 22 undetermined species of Trouessartia from Colombia, Silva et al (2015) found 15 undetermined species of Trouessartia from Brazil and Atyeo (in McClure and Ratanaworabhan 1973) reported 162 undetermined species of the genus from Asia (unfortunately new species from this material have never been described).…”

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

“…These mites were found on vanes of the wing feathers of the sparrows (mainly primaries, secondaries, tertialis and rectrices), where they were located in corridors formed by barbs. These locations are the most common for feather mites of the family Proctophyllodidae (MIRONOV & GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA, BARRETO et al, 2012;MENDES et al, 2012;ENOUT et al, 2012;SILVA et al, 2015;HERNANDES et al, 2016) Representatives of P. polyxenus were found in 1.4% (4/277) of the examined bird individuals. As the previous feather mite, this species is a typical inhabitant of the flight feathers of the wings and tail feathers having large and firm vanes.…”