TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - Two new species of feather mites (Acarina: Psoroptidia) from passerines (Passeriformes) in southern China
VL  - 66
IS  - Suppl
SP  - 255
EP  - 255
PY  - 2026
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - Ioana Cristina, Constantinescu
AU  - Gabriel Bogdan, Chișamera
AU  - Rozalia, Motoc
AU  - Daniel, Gustafsson
AU  - Costică, Adam
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/ozk3-ppp4
DO  - 10.24349/ozk3-ppp4
DA  - 2026-07-20
ET  - 2026-07-20
KW  - Feather mites
KW  - New species
KW  - Trouessartia
KW  - Dolichodectes
KW  - China
AB  - Feather mites constitute one of the most diverse and widespread groups of avian ectosymbionts, inhabiting the plumage of nearly all extant bird species. Despite their ubiquity, the documented diversity of these mites in China remains notably limited, with approximately 100 species having been mentioned in the literature. This study contributes to the knowledge of feather mite fauna in this country by describing two new species belonging to two genera: Trouessartia (a genus widely distributed on passerines, with over 160 described species) and Dolichodectes, a genus with a limited number of species described to date (11 species). Specimens of feather mites were obtained from the Mountain Bulbul, Ixos mcclellandii (Pycnonotidae), and the Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Trochalopteron milnei (Leiothrichidae). The birds were captured with the help of ornithological nets, identified, and visually checked for the presence of mites; after the collection of mites, the birds were released back into the wild. Mite specimens were placed in tubes with 95% ethanol and, later, in the laboratory, were cleared in lactic acid and mounted on microscope slides in Hoyer’s medium Dolichodectes sp. n. represents the first member of this genus described from a host in the family Pycnonotidae. It possesses distinct morphological characters that clearly differentiate it within the genus: in males, the pseudanal setae ps3 are positioned laterally to the adanal suckers. Considering this, the generic diagnosis for males should be revised to include species with pseudanal setae ps3 positioned posteriorly, postero-laterally, or laterally to the adanal suckers. The unique shape of the opisthosomal lobes (with truncated and concave posterior margins) and the shape of terminal setae h3 (which are leaf-like, resembling linden leaves) also make the males of this species distinct within the genus. Trouessartia sp. n. has dorsal shields heavily sclerotized with thickened bands of chitin in both sexes, which are unique characteristics within the genus. Males of the new species have filiform setae g, situated on the postgenital plaque, adanal apodemes with apophyses, terminal lamellae with denticulate lateral and posterior margins, and legs IV of a length where ambulacral discs extend beyond the level of the apices of terminal lamellae. Females of the new species have a very short external copulatory tube and a spermatheca with a collar having fringed margins.
ER -