j. RaptorRes. 34(3):210-231 ¸ 2000 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. A REVIEW AND CHECKLIST OF THE PARASITIC MITES (ACARINA) OF THE FALCONIFORMES AND STRIGIFORMES JAMESR. PHILIPS Math/ScienceDivision, Babson College, Babson Park, MA 02457-0310 U.S.A. ABSTRACT.--Referencedchecklists are provided of the 86 speciesof parasiticfeather, quill, respiratory, skin, and nest mites (Acarina) that are known from 116 speciesof hawks,eagles, falcons, and vultures, and the 91 speciesof parasitic mites known from 51 speciesof owls. KEYWORDS: Falconiformes;SOigiformes; falcons;, hawks; eagles;, vulturex owls; parasites; mite• Aca•ina. Un resumeny listado de piojos (Acarina) en Falconiformesy Strigiformes RESUMEN.--Seprovee un listado referenciado de 86 especiesde piojos (Acarina) en plumas, quilla, aparato respiratorio,piel y nidos conocidosa partir de 116 especiesde gavilanes,figuilas, halcones, y buitres y de 91 especiesde piojos conocidosa partir de 51 especiesde bfihos. [Traducci6n de C•sar Mfirquez] This review summarizesour current knowledge nately, most mites on raptors are not very patho- of the host-parasiterelationships between parasitic genic and feather mites in particular are usually mites and members of the Falconiformes and Stri- more commensal, rarely causingharm unless they giformes (Appendices I and 2). Over the years, become extremely abundant. there have been many taxonomic name changes Feather Mites. There are seven families of fal- within birds and especiallymites, so my reviewup- coniform feather mites:Analgidae (Ancyralges),Av- dates old host records to current nomenclature, as enzoariidae (Bonnetella),Cheylabididae ( Cheylabis, well as indicating accidental or misidentified re- Hemicheylabis),Gabuciniidae (Aetacarus,Aposolenz- cords that should not be regarded as very signifi- dia, Hieracolichus,Ramogabucinia), Kramerellidae cant. Nonparasitic nest mites and parasitic mites (Pseudogabucinia) , Pterolichidae ( Pseudalloptinus), from prey occur accidentallyon raptors, and birds and Xolalgidae (Analloptes,Dubininia). Ancyralges in captivity or specimen bags may pick up mites occurs only on vultures and Bonnetellaoccurs only from other speciesas well. My review also includes on Ospreys (Pandionhaliaetus). Only a few individ- records of some new species,as yet undescribed, uals of Ancyralgeshave been collected,but over 300 which I have found through necropsiesof raptors. Bonnetellahave been found on an Osprey (Miller There are 21 families of mites that are associated et al. 1997). The cheylabidid,gabuciniid, and pter- with falconiforms and 17 families associated with olichid genera which occur on raptors do not oc- owls.Mites inhabit birds' feathers, quills, skin and cur on other orders of birds, except for Aetacarus subcutaneoustissues, respiratory tracts,and nests, which includes two speciesassociated with the Oti- and feed on blood, tissue fluid, skin and feather didae. In these genera, speciesrange from monox- lipids and debris, keratin, fungi, algae, and other enous to polyxenous. Pseudogabucinia,Analloptes, mites (Philips 1990, 1993). The mite fauna of most and Dubininia are found on several orders of birds falconiform and strigiform speciesis completely but their falconiform speciesare restricted to this unknown, but these raptors can host a diversemite order. Aetacarus,Hieracolichus, Pseudalloptinus, and community with as many as eight mite species Pseudogabucinialive on the wings,especially the pri- known from the Black Kite (Milvus migrans)and maries and upper primary wing coverts. Over 18 speciesknown from the Long-eared Owl (Asio 15 000 Pseudalloptinushave been found on a single otus).Since mites are so small (0.3-1.5 mm long), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetusleucocephalus). Feather mites they are often overlooked,but raptors that appear feed on feather fragments,lipids secretions,skin parasite-freeto the eye can support populationsof debris, and feather fungi, bacteria,and algae. The 15 000 feather mites and 4000 quill mites. Fortu- diet of Aetacarusand Pseudalloptinusincludes fresh- 210 SEPTEMBER 2000 PARASITIC MITES OF RAPTORS 211 water diatoms which stick to feathers when birds orders.In owls,Paralges colonizes the upper and un- are in water (Dubinin 1956). In great numbers, der trunk feathersbut populationsover 10 havenot feather mites irritate the host with damage result- yet been found on an individual owl. The family ing from the bird's stressand feather pulling. Vas- Oconnoriidae is known only from the Philippine yukova and Labutin (1990) found that feather BoobookOwl (Ninoxphilippensis) and probablyeats mites occurred on 22% of falconiform birds and the medulla of quills (Gaud et al. 1989). The syrin- 77% of owls in Yakutia. gophilid genus Bubophilusis known only from the There are three families of owl feather mites: GreatHorned Owl (Philipsand Norton 1978).Two Kramerellidae (Dermonoton,Kramerella, and Petito- thousandBubophilus have been found on one bird, ta), Psoroptoididae (Pandalura), and Xolalgidae inhabiting mainly axillary and nearby wing feathers. (Glaucalges).These genera only occur on owlswith Infestationsof Great Horned Owl quillswith Paralges the exception of one speciesof Glaucalgeswhich and Bubophiluswere photographicallydocumented occurs on Musophagidae. Kramerellaspecies are by Philips (1993). very host specific, occupy primarily wing feathers, Skin Mites. Skin mites of falconiform birds and are often very numerous (thousands) on an which live on the skin surface or burrow into the individual. Philips (1993) photographed Great skin include the families Cheyletiellidae, Epider- Horned Owl (Bubovirginianus) alula feathers with moptidae ( Microlichusand Myialges),Harpyrhynchi- Kramerellainfestations. Kramerellais very common dae (Havpyrhynchus),and Knemidocoptidae(Knem- on owlsand wasfound on 86% of EurasianPygmy- idocoptes).Cheyletiellid mites feed on blood and Owls (Glaucidiumpasserinum) in Thuringia (Cern•, tissuefluid, and most speciesare associatedwith a and Wiesner 1992). Petitota, Pandalura, and Glau- particular family of birds. Microlichusand Myialges calgesspecies are more polyxenousand typicallyoc- are also associatedwith louseflies(Hippoboscidae) cur in smaller numbers on a host (Atyeo and Phil- and are more fly specific. Their bird host range ips 1984). Dermonotonalso is more polyxenousbut tends to correspond to that of their fly host. Fer- population data are lacking. tilized Myialgesfemales parasitize louseflies and lay Quill Mites. There are two families of falconi- their eggson them, but the other stagesof the life form quill mites: Ascouracaridae(Pyonacarus) and cycle are bird parasites.Microlichus is phoretic on Syringophilidae (Peristerophila,undescribed gen- lousefliesand usesthem only for a ride to another era). Ascouracarid mites occur on seven orders of bird host. Microlichuslives in feather bulbs, pro- birds but Pyonacarusis known only from the Black ducing congestionand swelling.These skin mites Kite (Milvus migrans).These mites eat the medulla feed on surface skin debris, keratin, and tissue of quills. Syringophilid mites use their mouthparts fluid. to pierce the quill wall and feed on tissue fluid Skin mites of owls which live on the skin surface from the feather follicle. Feather loss and second- or burrow into the skin include the families Anal- ary bacterial infection can result. Each genus of gidae ( Strelkoviacarus), Epidermoptidae ( Microli- Syringophilidae is primarily or exclusivelyassoci- chus,Myialges, Passeroptes) , Harpyrhynchidae ( Har- ated with a particular order of birds. Peristerophila pyrhynchus), and Knemidocoptidae( Knemidocoptes). is a columbiform mite and P. columbae is known Strelkoviacarus,like Microlichus,is phoretic on louse- from pigeons ( Columbalivia) and its occurrenceon flies with a broad avian host range. Passeroptesoc- a Red-tailedHawk (Buteojamaicensis)(Casto 1976) curs on Passeriformes and Columbiformes as well is unusual and may be accidental. I have found a as owls,but individual speciesare restrictedto one new genusof syringophilidmite that occurson five order of bird host. North American accipitrid birds. Trunk and scap- Harpyrhynchid and knemidocoptid mites bur- ular feathers are preferred by falconiform syrin- row into the skin, causingitching and mange. Har- gophilid mites. pyrhynchidmite speciesusually have only one avi- There are three families of owl quill mites: Der- an host speciesand occur on the calamus at the moglyphidae (Paralges),Oconnoriidae (Oconnoria), skin surface and in subcutaneous cysts. Schulz and Syringophilidae (Bubophilus).Dermoglyphid (1990) photographicallydocumented feather loss mites can cause extensivemange becauseowls use on the head and neck of a Golden Eagle (Aquila their beaksto dig them out. Paralgesoccurs on several chrysaetos)caused by harpyrhynchidmites. This pa- orders of birds, but the undescribedspecies from thology has not been observed in owls. Philips owls (Philips 1993) have not been found on other (1993) photographed a harpyrhynchidembedded 212 PHILIPS VOL. 34, No. 3 in the skin of a Boreal Owl (Aegoliusfunereus).Most recordssuggests temporarily successful colonization knemidocoptid mite speciesare polyxenouswithin of other bird hostsin nestingproximity is not un- an order of birds, but those found on owls also common(Pence et al. 1997). This appearsto be the occur on other bird orders. Knemidocoptid mites casewith the record of Hypodectespropus from the live in the stratum corneum of the skin, causing Burrowing Owl (Speotytocunicularia) and Neottialges hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis,