Revision of the quill mites of the genus Picobia Haller, 1878 (Acari: Syringophilidae) with notes on their host-parasites relationships

Abstract

The genus Picobia Haller (Acari: Syringophilidae) is revised. The species of this genus are permanent parasites living in quills of bird body feathers. In total 19 species are recognized. Four new species are described from passerine birds (Passeriformes): Picobia locustella sp. n. from Locustella naevia (Sylviidae), P. biarmicus sp. n. from Panurus biarmicus (Panuridae), P. sturni sp. n. from Sturnus vulgaris (Sturnidae) and P. cissa sp. n. from Cissa chinensis (Corvidae). Two species are redescribed: P. dryobatis (Fritsch) and P. zumpti (Lawrence). A neotype for P. dryobatis is designated. A new diagnosis for the genus Picobia and a key to females are provided. Parsimony analysis of the genus is conducted. Host-parasite relationships are briefly discussed.

Crotophagisyringophilus n. g. (Acari: Syringophilidae), a new genus of parasitic quill mites

“…The picobiines are specific to their host, but there is no congruence between parasite and bird phylogenies. Species of Picobia Haller, 1878 have been reported from six avian orders: Passeriformes, Galliformes, Psittaciformes, Piciformes, Coraciiformes and Columbiformes (see Skoracki et al, 2004). On the other hand, syringophiline species are restricted to single bird species, genera or to closely related genera Skoracki et al, 2004).…”

Quill mites of the subfamily Picobiinae (Acari: Syringophilidae) associated with woodpeckers (Aves: Piciformes: Picidae)

“…Picobia heeri -Haller 1878: 93, Skoracki 2011 (Fritsch 1958, Skoracki et al 2004, 2010, Nattress and Skoracki 2009, Skoracki 2011). Below we reported 12 new host species from the family Picidae.…”

<p><strong>New quill mites (Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae) parasitizing the black-headed paradise-flycatcher <em>Terpsiphone</em> <em>rufiventer</em> (Passeriformes: Monarchidae) in Gabon</strong></p>

“…Four species included in this genus: Pipicobia terpsiphoni sp. nov., Pipicobia locustella (Skoracki, Bochkov and Wauthy, 2004) comb. nov., Pipicobia pyrrholaemus comb.nov.…”

“…nov., Pipicobia pyrrholaemus comb.nov. and Pipicobia glossopsitta (Skoracki, Glowska and Sikora, 2008) comb.nov. This species was originally described in the genus Picobia based on material found on the common grasshopperwarbler Locustella naevia (Boddaert) (Passeriformes: Locustellidae) in Poland (Skoracki et al 2004). Later on, Skoracki (2011) redescribed this species, moved it to the genus Neopicobia and provided a record from an additional host species, Savi's warbler Locustella luscinioides (Savi) from Poland.…”

“…nov. parasitizing the black-headed paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer (Swainson) (Passeriformes: Monarchidae) in Gabon. Three species of the Neopicobia Skoracki, 2011 are moved to the newly established genus, Pipicobia locustella (Skoracki, Bochkov andWauthy, 2004) comb. nov., Pipicobia pyrrholaemus (Skoracki and comb.nov.…”