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The fauna of the quill mite genus Peristerophila Kethley, 1970 (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) associated with pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbiformes) is reviewed. In our study, we examined 109 species of columbiform hosts of which 28 species belonging to nine genera were infested by Peristerophila mites. In the analyzed mite material, six species of this genus were found including two new species described herein: P. geopelis sp. nov. from Geopelia cuneata, G. placida, G. striata, as well as Ocyphaps lophotes and P. leucomela sp. nov. from Columba leucomela. Additionally, eighteen new host species and many new locality records for the previously described taxa are reported.

Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) parasitizing cockatoos (Psittaciformes: Cacatuidae) are reviewed. Three new species are described: Neoaulobia cacatui sp. nov. from the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus (type host) in Australia and the Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus in Papua New Guinea, Lawrencipicobia calyptorhyncha sp. nov. from the Glossy Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami in Australia, and Lawrencipicobia sulphurea sp. nov. from the Yellow-crested cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea in Indonesia (West Timor).

We report two host-specific lineages of scab mites of the genus Caparinia, parasitizing European and African hedgehogs. Based on morphology, these mite lineages are closely related sister groups. The morphological differences, however, are subtle and do not provide clear-cut evidence for the existence of separate species. CO1 divergence between these lineages was 7.4–7.8%, well above the CO1 barcoding gaps or thresholds commonly used to separate species, whereas divergence of five nuclear genes was very low, 0.06–0.53%, suggesting that these lineages could belong to a single species with gene flow between them. Thus, there is a conflict between the mitochondrial (CO1) gene and nuclear genes (i.e mito-nuclear discordance). We attribute this conflict to the ‘gray zone’ where species delimitation is ambiguous due to substantial gene flow. We also report another ‘gray zone’ species, Psoroptes ovis (a species of veterinary importance), whose within-species CO1 distances reached 6.0%. We provide a detailed morphological description and figures of C. ictonyctis stat. res. from the African hedgehog, using light and SEM microscopy and give morphometric data for this species and its sister species, Caparinia tripilis from Europe. For all known species of Caparinia, we document their host associations and give a key to species of the world based on results of our morphological and molecular analyses and a nearly exhaustive study of museum specimens.

Three new species of the genus Neoaulonastus Skoracki, 2004 found inside the quills of the body feathers are described: N. tanzanicus sp. nov. from Euplectes axillaris (Smith) (Passeriformes: Ploceidae), N. quelea sp. nov. from Quelea quelea Linnaeus (Ploceidae) and N. granatina sp. nov. from Granatina ianthinogaster Reichenow (Estrildidae). All avian hosts were captured in Tanzania. Key to Neoaulonastus species is proposed.

Four additional species of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae Lavoipierre have now been recorded in England. This includes one new species, Bubophilus aluconis sp. nov., which parasitizes the tawny owl Strix aluco (Strigiformes: Strigidae). It differs from other species of this genus, B. ascalaphus Philips et Norton, 1978 and B. asiobius Skoracki et Bochkov, 2002 by the number of chambers in transverse branch of the peritremes (2-3), the length ratio of setae vi and ve (1:1.6-2), and the lengths of the stylophore and aggenital setae ag1 (180 and 135-145, respectively).

The first records of quill mites (Syringophilidae) from Jordan (Middle East) are presented. A new species, Picobia pycnonoti sp. nov. from the White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos (Ehrenberg) (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae) is described and illustrated. Additionally, eight bird species are reported as new hosts for syringophilid mites.

The fauna of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Cheyletoidea) parasitizing birds in Mexico is surveyed. Three new species of the genus Syringophiloidus Kethley are described: S. amazilia sp. nov. from Amazilia candida (Bonaer & Mulsant) (Apodiformes: Trochilidae), S. cincli sp. nov. from Cinclus mexicanus Swainson (Passeriformes: Cinclidae), and S. sporophila sp. nov. from Sporophila torqueola (Bonaparte) (Passeriformes: Thraupidae). Additionally, six quill mite species are found for the first time in Mexico and several new host associations are recorded. The syringophilid fauna presently recorded in Mexico is summarized.

The fauna of quill mites of the subfamily Picobiinae Johnston and Kethley, 1973 (Acariformes: Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae) is comprehensively revised. All of 78 known species, which are grouped into 11 genera, are examined and diagnosed or redescribed. Data on picobiine hosts and distribution are summarized, including new host and locality records. The following new species are described: Charadriineopicobia apricaria sp. nov. ex Pluvialis apricaria (Linnaeus) (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae) from France, Neopicobia pari sp. nov. ex Periparus venustulus Swinhoe (type host) (Passeriformes: Paridae) from China, Parus major Linnaeus (Paridae) from Macedonia and Finland, and Poecile varius Temminck and Schlegel (Paridae) from Japan, Picobia magellani sp. nov. ex Scytalopus magellanicus (Gmelin) (Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae) from Colombia, Picobia lonchura sp. nov. ex Lonchura leucogastra (Blyth) (Passeriformes: Estrildidae) from Indonesia, Picobia makoli sp. nov. ex Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus (Lesson) (Passeriformes: Furnariidae) from Colombia. The species Picobia polonica Skoracki, Magowski and Dabert, 2001 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of C. khulkhaskhani Kivganov and Sharafat, 1995. The following new combinations are proposed: Neopicobia ictericus (Skoracki and Glowska, 2010) comb. nov., Rafapicobia brotogeris (Fain, Bochkov and Mironov, 2000) comb. nov., and Rafapicobia ramphastos (Fain, Bochkov and Mironov, 2000) comb. nov. Keys to the all picobiine genera and species are presented, along with a check-list of picobiine species and their hosts.

We describe two new quill mite species of the genus Meitingsunes Glowska and Skoracki, 2010 (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) parasitizing columbiform birds (Columbiformes: Columbidae): M. chalcophaps sp. nov. collected from the Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica (Linnaeus) and M. turacoenas sp. nov. from the White-faced Cuckoo Dove, Turacoena manadensis (Quoy and Gaimard) (type host) and the Black Cuckoo-Dove, Turacoena modesta (Temminck). All host species were collected in Indonesia. These represent two new genus-level host records for Meitingsunes . In addition, we summarize the diversity of Meitingsunes and present a key to species in this genus.

Quill mites belonging to the subfamily Syringophilinae Lavoipierre, 1953 associated with the Nearctic passeriform birds are revised. All of the 49 known species, which are grouped in seven genera, are recorded. Among them, four new species are described: Syringophiloidus audubioni sp. nov. from Spizella breweri (Cassini) (Emberizidae), Syringophilopsis catesbyi sp. nov. from Vireo olivaceus (Linnaeus) (Vireonidae), S. wilsoni sp. nov. from Pheucticus melanocephalus (Swainson) (Cardinalidae), and S. bartrami sp. nov. from Spizella passerina (Bechstein) (Emberizidae). The species Syringophilopsis hylocichlae Clark, 1964 syn. nov. is synonymized with Syringophilopsis turdus (Fritsch, 1958), and Syringophiloidus zonotrichia syn. nov. is synonymized with Betasyringophiloidus seiuri (Clark, 1964) comb. nov. Six species are recorded from the Nearctic region for the first time: Syringophiloidus delichonum Bochkov, 2001, S. glandarii (Fritsch, 1958), S. weiszii Skoracki et al ., 2001, S. bombycillae Skoracki, 2002, Syringophilopsis mimidus Sikora et al ., 2011, and Torotrogla merulae Skoracki et al ., 2000. Data on Nearctic syringophiline species, their hosts and distribution are summarized and the keys to all species are constructed.

Two new syringophilid species (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) are described, Apodisyringiana hirundapi sp. nov. from Hirundapus caudacutus (Latham) from Japan and Syringophiloidus apus sp. nov. from Apus melba (Linnaeus) from Chile.

Two new species of syringophilid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) associated with passeriform birds of the family Rhinocryptidae in South America are described: Syringophiloidus teledromas sp. nov. from Teledromas fuscus (Sclater and Salvin) in Argentina and Aulonastus pteroptochos sp. nov. from Pteroptochos tarnii (King) in Chile. The genus Aulonastus Kethley, 1970 is recorded from the tapaculos for the first time, and the new species of Syringophiloidus Kethley, 1970 described here is the second record of this genus on rhinocryptid birds.

Two new species of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) associated with doves of the subfamily Treroninae (Columbiformes: Columbidae) from the Oceanian realm are described: Gunabopicobia masalaje sp. nov. from six avian host species, Ptilinopus iozonus Gray (type host) Ducula pistrinaria (Bonaparte), D. rosacea (Temminck), D. rufigaster (Quoy and Gaimard), D. spilorrhoa (Gray), D. luctuosa (Temminck), and Peristerophila lature sp. nov. also from six host species Ducula luctuosa (type host ), D. spilorrhoa, Ptilinopus jambu Gmelin, P. melanospilus Salvadori, P. porphyreus Temminck, P. regina Swainson. Additionally, Treron waalia (Meyer) is noted as a new host species for Meitingsunes columbicus Glowska and Skoracki, 2010.

Two new quill mite species of the family Syringophilidae, Picobia passeri sp. nov. and Krantziaulonastus dubinini sp. nov., are described from quills of the body feathers of the house sparrow Passer domesticus (L.) (Passeriformes: Passeridae) from the European part of Russia.

Two new species of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae parasitising trogoniform birds (Trogoniformes: Trogonidae) are described: Syringophiloidus quetzali sp. nov. from Pharomachrus mocinno Llave and Ph. antisianus (Orbigny); and Syringophilopsis trogoni sp. nov. from Trogon citreolus Gould and T. melanocephalus Gould. These findings are the first records of syringophilids associated with trogoniform birds.

Two new species, Syringophilopisis pari sp. nov. from Poecile palustris Linnaeus (Paridae) and Torotrogla volgini sp. nov. from Emberiza elegans Temminck (Emberizidae) are described. Additionally, new host species are reported for three syringophilid species: Emberiza tristrami Swinhoe and E. rutila Pallas for Betasyringophiloidus schoeniclus (Skoracki); Sitta europaea Linnaeus (Sittidae) for Syringophilopsis sittae Skoracki et al., and Zosterops erythropleurus Swinhoe (Zosteropidae) for Neoaulonastus zosterops Skoracki et al. All avian hosts were captured in the Primorsky Krai, Russia. The syringophilid fauna presently recorded from Russia is summarized.

Two new species belonging to the genus Rafapicobia Skoracki, 2011 (Syringophilidae: Picobiinae) collected from birdsof the family Dendrocolaptidae are described: 1) Rafapicobia dendrocolaptesi sp. nov. from Dendrocolaptes platyrostris Spix (type host) in Paraguay and from D. picumnus Lichtenstein in Argentina; 2) Rafapicobia lepidocolaptesi sp. nov. from Lepidocolaptes affinis (Lafresnaye) (type host) in Ecuador and Venezuela and from L. souleyetii (Des Murs) in Colombia. Syringophilid mites are recorded from woodcreepers for the first time.

The fauna of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) of the Palaearctic Region is comprehensively revised. The external morphology of adults and immature instars was studied in detail. All known 118 species grouped in 32 genera and 2 subfamilies occuring in the Palaearctic Region are examined and keyed. Critical reviews of host associations, occupying habitat, and distribution are given for all mite species. Six new genera are proposed, 4 in the subfamily Syringophilinae: Betasyringophiloidus gen. nov., Krantziaulonastus gen. nov., Paraniglarobia gen. nov., Pteroclidisyringophilus gen. nov.; and 2 in the subfamily Picobiinae: Neopicobia gen. nov., and Rafapicobia gen. nov. Twenty five new species are described in the subfamily Syringophilinae: Aulobia leucostictus sp. nov., Aulonastus lanius sp. nov., A. loxius sp. nov., A. anthus sp. nov., A. fringillus sp. nov., Betasyringophiloidus saxicolus sp. nov., B. phoenicurus sp. nov., Krantziaulonastus oryzivorus sp. nov., K. lonchurus sp. nov., Meitingsunes columbicus sp. nov., Neoaulonastus remizus sp. nov., N. caligatus sp. nov., N. aegithalos sp. nov., N. picidus sp. nov., N. riparius sp. nov., Selenonycha chradriiformicus sp. nov., Syringophiloidus philomelosus sp. nov., S. petronicus sp. nov., S. parapresentalis sp. nov., S. coccothraustes sp. nov., Syringophilopsis idunae sp. nov., S. muscicapus sp. nov., S. passericus sp. nov., S. nucifragus sp. nov., Torotrogla pycnonotus sp. nov. and five new species are described in the subfamily Picobiinae: Picobia cetti sp. nov., P. riparius sp. nov., P. eremophila sp. nov., P. galerida sp. nov., and Rafapicobia zirnitra sp. nov. The following new combinations are proposed: Aulobia stachyris (Bochkov et al. , 2000) comb. nov., Betasyringophiloidus motacillae (Bochkov and Mironov, 1998) comb. nov., B. schoeniclus (Skoracki, 2002) comb. nov., Columbiphilus alectoris (Fain et al ., 2000) comb. nov., Columbiphilus polonica (Skoracki et al. , 2001) comb. nov., C. pteroclesi (Skoracki and OConnor, 2010) comb. nov., Cuculisyringophilus chirovi (Bochkov and Mironov, 1998) comb. nov., Krantziaulonastus buczekae (Skoracki, 2002) comb. nov., Krantziaulonastus galbulicus (Skoracki, 2008) comb. nov., Neoaulonastus bisetatus (Fritsch, 1958) comb. nov., Neopicobia anthi (Fritsch, 1958) comb. nov., Neopicobia cardinalis (Skoracki et al. , 2010) comb. nov., N. carpodacus (Skoracki et al ., 2010) comb. nov., N. epthianura (Skoracki et al ., 2008) comb. nov., N. glossopsitta (Skoracki et al. , 2008) comb. nov., N. locustella (Skoracki et al ., 2004) comb. nov., N. modularis (Skoracki and Magowski, 2001) comb. nov., N. pyrrholaemus (Skoracki and Glowska, 2008) comb. nov., N. troglodytes (Skoracki et al ., 2010) comb. nov., N. zumpti (Lawrence, 1959) comb. nov., Paraniglarobia calidridis (Bochkov and Mironov, 1998) comb. nov., Paraniglarobia skorackii (Bochkov and Galloway, 2004) comb. nov., Pteroclidisyringophilus re (Skoracki and OConnor, 2010) comb. nov. Three species are considered as incertae sedis : Picobia brotogeris Fain et al ., 2000, P. leucophaeus Skoracki et al., 2010, P. poicephali Skoracki and Dabert, 2002. Keys to the syringophilid genera and all Palaearctic species are provided. Main aspects of host–parasite relationships are discussed.

In this paper we describe a new quill mite species Stibarokris dastychi sp. nov., parasitizing Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus) (Pelecaniformes: Phalacrocoracidae) and the male of S. phoeniconaias Skoracki et OConnor, 2010 from American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber Linnaeus (new host). Additionally, the improved (including both female and male) diagnosis of the genus Stibarokris Kethley, 1970 and the key to all known species of this genus are given.

A new genus of syringophilid mites Meitingsunes gen. nov. (Acari: Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae) inhabiting quills of columbiform birds is established. The new genus is closely related to Peristerophila Kethley but distinguished from it by the smooth hypostomal apex and divergent apodemes I not fused to apodemes II. This new genus includes one new species, M. aldwelles sp. nov. described from quills of Geotrygon frenata (Tschudi) from Colombia, and two named species moved from Peristerophila: M. tympanistria (Skoracki et Dabert, 2002) comb. nov. and M. zenadourae (Clark, 1964) comb. nov. [type species].

Four new genera and eight new species are described: Apodisyringophilus collocalius gen. nov., sp. nov. from Collocalia esculenta (Linnaeus) (Apodiformes: Apodidae) from the Philippines, Bochkovia phalaropi gen. nov., sp. nov. from Phalaropus fulicarius (Linnaeus) (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) from the USA, Ciconichenophilus phoeniconaias gen. nov., sp. nov. and Stibarokris phoeniconaias sp. nov. from Phoeniconaias minor (Geoffroy SaintHilaire) (Phoenicopteriformes: Phoenicopteridae) from Botswana, Picisyringophilus kratos gen. nov., sp. nov. from Picoides pubescens (Linnaeus) (Piciformes: Picidae) from the USA, Charadriiphilus re sp. nov. and Picobia pteroclesi sp. nov. from Pterocles senegallus (Linnaeus) (Pteroclidiformes: Pteroclididae) from Egypt, and Neoaulonastus chrysocolaptes sp. nov. from Chrysocolaptes lucidus (Scopoli) (Piciformes: Picidae) from the Philippines. The new genera differ from the closely related genera by the following characters: Apodisyringophilus gen. nov. differs from Syringophiloidus Kethley by the absence of leg setae lGIV, the presence of the short hysteronotal setae and by apodemes I fused to apodemes II; Bochkovia gen. nov. differs from Procellariisyringophilus Schmidt et Skoracki by the presence of the dentate cheliceral stylets and two pairs of pseudanal setae, the absence of setae vsI and by the presence of the strongly curved claws on tarsi I-IV; Ciconichenophilus gen. nov. differs from Chenophila Kethley by the stylophore rounded posteriorly, the long hysteronotal setae, apodemes I not fused to apodemes II and by the absence of leg setae vsII; Picisyringophilus gen. nov. differs from Mironovia Chirov et Kravtsova by coxal fields I and II subequal in sizesand by setae se situated distinctly anterior to setae c1. Data on distribution of all known syringophilid genera on host families and orders are provided.

We provide a list of all 19 named species of the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata) parasitizing charadriiform birds (Charadriiformes) together with new records and keys to these species. We describe a new species Niglarobia cursoriae sp. nov. from Cursorius temminckii Swainson (Glareolidae) and redescribe Creagonycha totana (Oudemans, 1904) from Tringa totanus L. (Scolopacidae). Niglarobia cursoriae sp. nov. differs from the closely related species N. rhinoptili Fain et al., 2000 in the following characters: in females of N. cursoriae sp. nov. hysterosomal shield is present and fused with pygidial shield; the length ratio of setae g:pg1:pg2 is 1:5:3.8. In females of N. rhinoptili the hysterosomal shield is absent; and the length ratio of setae g:pg1:pg2 is 1:3:2. All known syringophilid records from charadriiform birds are summarized in tabular form.

Two new species of quill mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) collected from passeriform birds from Africa are described and illustrated: Aulobia cisticolae sp. n. from the Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops (Hartlaub, 1857), the Singing Cisticola C. cantans (Heuglin, 1869) and the Whistling Cisticola C. lateralis (Fraser, 1843) (Sylviidae) and Syringophilopsis corvinae sp. n. from the Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvina (Shaw, 1809) (Laniidae). Two new host species of the family Syrinophilidae are given.