Survey of nasal mites (Rhinonyssidae, Ereynetidae, and Turbinoptidae) associated with birds in Alberta and Manitoba, Canada

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Galloway, T.
  • Proctor, H.
  • Knee, W.

• Abstract: Three major lineages of mites (Arachnida: Acari) are parasitic in the nasal passages of birds: Rhinonyssidae (Mesostigmata), Ereynetidae (Prostigmata), Cytoditidae, and Turbinoptidae (Astigmata). The most diverse group of avian nasal mites is the Rhinonyssidae, which are obligate endoparasites of non-ratite birds worldwide. Prior to this study, there were only four published and three unpublished records of nasal mites from birds in Canada. In Alberta, 15% of 450 birds (154 species) examined during 2003-2007 were infested with nasal mites; in Manitoba, 16% of 2447 birds (196 species) examined during 1996-2006 were infested. We have expanded the known records of host - nasal mite species in Canada from 7 to 102, a 14-fold increase. There are now 50 species of Rhinonyssidae, 7 species of Ereynetidae, and I species of Turbinoptidae known from birds in Alberta and Manitoba. We predict that at least 70 species of rhinonyssid mites can be found in Canada.

• Date created

  2008

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Finch
  • Dermanyssidae
  • Coevolution
  • Parasitism
  • Louisiana
  • Ectoparasites
  • Sternostoma-tracheacolum lawrence
  • Acarina-rhinonyssinae
  • Erythrura-gouldiae

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R35T3G67P

• License

  © 2008 Cambridge University Press. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.