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Harrison's Rule (HR) postulates a positive allometry between host and parasite body sizes. We tested HR for Syringophilid quill mites parasitizing birds. Using host body mass and parasite body length as size indices, this pattern was absent in the Syringophilidae family and the Syringophilinae subfamily as a whole. However, when considering the parasite genera as units of study, as proposed originally by Harrison, we found that host body mass positively correlates with both male and female parasite body length in seven genera (Aulobia, Aulonastus, Neoaulonastus, Picobia, Neopicobia, Syringophilopsis, and Torotrogla). Most of these relationships were non-significant. On the contrary, male and female Syringophiloidus mites exhibited negative relationships with host mass (both non-significant). This apparent contradiction disappeared when we applied wing length as an index of host body size. Since species of this genus are specific to the host flight feathers (secondaries and also primaries), wing length is a more meaningful index of host body size than body mass. Overall, most cases corresponded to the positive direction predicted by Harrison when examined on the genus level. This finding also implies a surprising reliability of the genus concept, at least in this group of ectoparasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigates the complex interactions between quill mites of the family Syringophilidae and starlings. We identified five species of quill mites infesting 24 species of starlings, uncovering intricate host–parasite dynamics across the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Oceanian zoogeographical regions. A detailed statistical analysis of the Picobiinae–Sturnidae network revealed low connectivity but high modularity, indicating specific relationships between the mites and their starling hosts. The network structure demonstrated four distinct modules, highlighting the specialised and compartmentalised characteristics of these associations. Furthermore, the distribution of Picobia mites was found to align with the phylogeny of their starling hosts, with particular mites targeting specific starling clades. The social and breeding behaviours of starlings were observed to contribute to the high prevalence of these mites. This comprehensive network analysis provides new insights into the ecological dynamics of host–parasite interactions. The subfamily Picobiinae (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) comprises obligate and permanent parasites of birds found exclusively in the quills of contour feathers. We studied associations of picobiine mites with birds of the family Sturnidae (Aves: Passeriformes) across the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Oceanian zoogeographical regions. Among the 414 examined bird individuals belonging to 44 species (35.2% of all sturnids), 103 individuals from 24 species (54.5% of examined species) were parasitised by quill mites. The diversity of mites was represented by five species, including one newly described, Picobia malayi Patan and Skoracki sp. n. Statistical analysis of the Picobiinae–Sturnidae bipartite network demonstrated a low connectance value (Con = 0.20) and high modularity, with significant differences in the H2′ specialisation index compared to null model values. The network structure, characterised by four distinct modules, highlighted the specificity and limited host range of the Picobiinae–Sturnidae associations. The distribution of Picobia species among starlings was congruent with the phylogeny of their hosts, with different mites parasitising specific clades of starlings. Additionally, the findings suggest that the social and breeding behaviours of starlings influence quite a high prevalence. Finally, our studies support the validity of museum collections to study these parasitic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study provides detailed information on six previously described species of syringophilines associated with starlings and records new host and locality data. Additionally, three new species are described: Aulonastus indonesianus sp. n., Aulonastus anais sp. n., and Syringophiloidus poeopterus sp. n., from various starling hosts across Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Tanzania. The study reveals that species from the genera Syringophiloidus and Syringophilopsis exhibit a broad host range among passerine birds, suggesting a long-established symbiotic relationship before the global dispersal of starlings. In Europe, the Eurasian Starling hosts Krantziaulonastus, while in Africa, related niches are occupied by Picobiinae mites. The research highlights the intricate coevolutionary dynamics between quill mites and their avian hosts. Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae are widely distributed parasites of birds inhabiting the interior of feather quills. In this paper, we provide detailed information on the host spectrum and distribution for six previously described species of syringophilines associated with starlings with new host and locality records. Additionally, we describe three new species: Aulonastus indonesianus Marcisova, Skoracki, and Patan sp. n. from the Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa Linnaeus in Indonesia (Java) and the White-necked Myna Streptocitta albicollis (Vieillot) in Indonesia (Celebes); Aulonastus anais Skoracki and Patan sp. n. from the Golden Myna Mino anais (Lesson) in Papua New Guinea; and Syringophiloidus poeopterus Skoracki and Patan sp. n. from the Abbott's Starling Poeoptera femoralis (Richmond) in Tanzania. Finally, we explore the host–parasite interactions within the system comprising starlings and syringophiline mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This research presents a description of a new species of quill mite, Tinamiphilopsis temmincki sp. n. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae), which was found on a representative of palaeognathous bird species, the Tataupa Tinamou (Crypturellus tataupa), in South America. Alongside describing this new species, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted on the primitive syringophilid genera. The results indicate that the genus Tinamiphilopsis is nested among the syringophilid genera associated with neognathous birds. This placement has significant implications for understanding the evolutionary relationship between quill mites and their avian hosts. The quill mite fauna of the Syringophilidae family (Acariformes: Prostigmata), which is associated with palaeognathous birds of the Tinamiformes order, remains poorly studied. Thus far, only two species of syringophilid mites have been documented on four species of tinamous. In this study, we present a description of a new species, Tinamiphilopsis temmincki sp. n., which was found on the Tataupa Tinamou (Crypturellus tataupa) in South America. This newly identified species differs from others in the genus due to the short hysteronotal setae d2 in females, unlike the long setae d2 found in females of other Tinamiphilopsis species. In addition to describing the new species, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the primitive syringophilid genera. The results reveal that the Tinamiphilopsis genus does not emerge as a sister group to all other syringophilids. Instead, it is deeply embedded within the radiation of quill mites associated with neognathous birds. This study provided evidence that mites belonging to the genus Tinamiphilopsis initially parasitised Neoavian birds before host switching to tinamous birds. This placement carries significant implications for our understanding of the evolution of quill mites and their relationship with their avian hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We report on the occurrence of parasitic quill mites of the family Syringophilidae on the well-known avian group birds-of-paradise. Our investigation resulted in the discovery of two new species of mites belonging to the subfamily Picobiinae, which has never before been recorded on birds-of-paradise. We hypothesise that the interspecific sexual behaviour of paradisaeids, which involves copulation with non-closely related host species, may have facilitated the spread of syringophilid mites between different and unrelated host species. These findings highlight the potential role of sexual behaviour in the distribution and transmission of parasitic quill mites among avian hosts. While birds-of-paradise (Passeriformes: Paradisaeidae) are a well-known group of birds, our understanding of their parasites is still limited. This study reports on parasitic quill mites of the subfamily Picobiinae (Acariformes: Syringophilidae), which have never before been recorded on this group of birds. The mite specimens presented in this paper were collected from birds-of-paradise that had been captured in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia in the years 1910–1911 and are now deposited in the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Munich, Germany. Two syringophilid species are described as new to science: (i) Picobia frankei sp. n. from the magnificent riflebird Lophorina magnifica, the glossy-mantled manucode Manucodia ater, and the crinkle-collared manucode Manucodia chalybatus, and (ii) Gunabopicobia garylarsoni sp. n. from the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleucus and the lesser bird-of-paradise Paradisaea minor. We hypothesise that the presence of both picobiine species on phylogenetically unrelated paradisaeids may be caused by the sexual behaviour of these birds, where interspecific copulations may play a role in the switching of parasites between non-closely related host species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata) includes obligatory ectoparasites, which occupy feather quills from various parts of avian plumage, where they feed and reproduce. Our study was concerned with the global fauna of syringophilid mites associated with Psittaciformes, as well as host-parasite specificity and evolution. We assumed that the system composed of quill mites and parrots represents a model group that can be used in a broader study of the relationships between parasites and hosts. In total, we examined 1524 host individuals of parrots belonging to 195 species, 73 genera, and 4 families (which constitute ca. 50% of global parrot fauna) from all zoogeographical regions where Psittaciformes occur. Among them, 89 individuals representing 81 species have been infested by quill mites belonging to 45 species and 8 genera. The prevalence of host infestations by syringophilid mites varied from 2.8% to 100% (95% confidence interval (CI Sterne method) = 0.1–100). We applied a bipartite analysis to determine the parasite-host interaction, network indices, and host specificity at the species and whole network levels. The Syringophilidae-Psittaciformes network was composed of 24 mite species and 47 host species. The bipartite network was characterized by a high network level specialization H2′ = 0.98, connectance C = 0.89, and high modularity Q = 0.90, with 23 modules, but low nestedness N = 0.0333. Moreover, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the quill mites on the generic level, and this analysis shows two distinct clades: Psittaciphilus (Peristerophila + Terratosyringophilus) (among Syringophilinae subfamily) and Lawrencipicobia (Pipicobia + Rafapicobia) (among Picobiinae). Finally, the distributions and host-parasite relationships in the system composed of syringophilid mites and parrots are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]