New host and locality records for endoparasitic nasal mites (Acari: Rhinonyssidae, Turbinoptidae, and Ereynetidae) infesting birds in Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

Four families of parasitic mites (Acari: Rhinonyssidae, Ereynetidae, Cytoditidae, and Turbinoptidae) have evolved independently to live inside the nasal passages of birds. A previous survey of nasal mites in Canada drew attention to the dearth of knowledge about these specialised mites, and indicated there were more species of nasal mites to discover in Canada. Since 2008, we have continued to survey nasal mites and herein present the details from infested hosts, 92 host individuals representing 64 species from 11 orders and 23 families. We report 18 new records for species of nasal mites in Canada: 16 Rhinonyssidae, one Ereynetidae, and one Turbinoptidae. No Cytoditidae have yet been recorded in Canada. We also collected five undescribed species of rhinonyssids. A total of 64 host-parasite species records are reported, and of these records, 52 rhinonyssids, one ereynetid, and three turbinoptids are new for Canada. Nasal mites were not collected from 127 host species, and several of these host species were sampled extensively (⩾ 50 individuals). This research furthers our understanding of avian nasal mites in Canada and highlights the need for continued investigations on these mites.

New species of parasitic nasal mites infesting birds in Manitoba, Canada (Mesostigmata, Rhinonyssidae)

“…Sternostomasialiphilus has been collected from the bank swallow ( Ripariariparia ) in Canada, and the eastern bluebird ( Sialiasialis ) in the United States (Hyland and Ford 1961, Knee et al 2008). Sternostomaloxiae has been collected from the red crossbill ( Loxiacurvirostra ) in Canada and Belgium, from the American yellow warbler ( Dendroicapetechia ), and mountain bluebird ( Sialiacurrucoides ) in Canada (Fain 1965, Knee et al 2008, Knee and Galloway 2017). …”

“…Five families of acariform (Cloacaridae, Ereynetidae, Turbinoptidae, Cytoditidae) and parasitiform (Rhinonyssidae) mites, have evolved independently to be parasitic in the nasal passages or lungs of birds. There are at least 500 described species of nasal mites worldwide (Fain 1994), of which the Rhinonyssidae are the most diverse and abundant, with 66 species (59 named, 7 undescribed species) occurring in Canada (Knee and Galloway 2017). Rhinonyssids are slow-moving, obligate haematophagous endoparasites that dwell primarily in the nasal cavity and turbinates, though occasionally these mites invade the trachea, lungs and body cavity (Porter and Strandtmann 1952, Bell 1996).…”

“…Nasal mites have been surveyed in many geographic regions throughout the world (Fain 1957a, Maa and Kuo 1965, Domrow 1969, Pence 1975, Butenko 1984, Knee and Galloway 2017); however, despite these efforts, our understanding of this mite assemblage is largely incomplete. A recent survey of nasal mites (Rhinonyssidae, Turbinoptidae, Ereynetidae) infesting birds in Manitoba (Knee and Galloway 2017) uncovered two new species of rhinonyssids.…”

“…A recent survey of nasal mites (Rhinonyssidae, Turbinoptidae, Ereynetidae) infesting birds in Manitoba (Knee and Galloway 2017) uncovered two new species of rhinonyssids. Herein, I propose and describe Sternostomagallowayi sp.…”

Acarorum Catalogus Vi

“…Ptilonyssus acrocephali Fain, 1964a: 55;Domrow, 1969b: 358;1988: 868;Pence, 1972;1975: 23;Fain, Sixl & Moritsch, 1974: 3;Spicer, 1987: 261;Knee, Proctor & Galloway, 2008: 369;Knee & Galloway, 2017: 95 Type locality: Deurne (Anvers, Belgium) Distribution: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, USA Hosts: Acrocephalus arundinaceus, A. australis, A. schoenobaenus, A. s. scirpaceus (Pas-seriformes: Acrocephalidae), Regulus calendula (Passeriformes: Regulidae)…”