Fig 107 (a). Ptilonyssus echinatus female dorsal habitus.
Fig 107 (b). Ptilonyssus echinatus female dorsum.
Fig 107 (c). Ptilonyssus echinatus female venter.
North American host records:
Hirundinidae:
Hirundo pyrrhonota, Cliff Swallow (George 1961; Pence 1975; Spicer 1987; Knee et al. 2008)
Hirundo rustica, Barn Swallow (George 1961; Pence 1972, 1975; Spicer 1987; Knee et al. 2008)
Riparia riparia, Sand Martin (Wilson 1964; Pence 1975)
Tachycineta bicolor, Tree Swallow (Pence 1975; Knee et al. 2008)
Diagnostic characteristics:
– two dorsal shields, podosomal and pygidial shields- genital shield arrow-shaped, pointed terminus, 10 times longer than wide
– pygidial shield in two fragments with subposterior setal pair on the fragments
– sternal shield absent
– posterior margin of podosomal shield either medially straight with lateral lobes, or trilobed, shield highly reduced
– subapical ventral setal pair on tarsus IV are relatively long strong spikes
– seven or more pairs of ventral opisthosomal setae
– at least five pairs of mesolateral setae
– mesolateral setae all approximately equal in length, there are not two pairs of setae that are twice as long as another setal pair
– subposterior pair of dorsal podosomal setae are as long or almost as long as the longest mesolateral setae
– paranal setae posterior to anal opening, paranal and postanal setae are equal or almost equal in length
References:
Berlese, A., and E.L. Trouessart. 1889. Diagnoses d’acariens nouveaux ou peu connus. Bulletin de la
Bibliotheque Scientifique de l’Ouest, 2: 121-143.
George, J.E. 1961. The nasal mites of the genus Ptilonyssus (Acarina: Rhinonyssidae)
occuring on some north american passerifrom birds. Kansas Entomological
Society, 34: 105-132.
Knee, W., Proctor, H., and Galloway, T. 2008. Survey of nasal mites (Rhinonyssidae, Ereynetidae,
and Turbinoptidae) associated with birds in Alberta and Manitoba, Canada. Canadian Entomologist,
140: 364-379.
Pence, D.B. 1972. The nasal mites of birds from Louisiana IV. The genus Ptilonyssus
(Dermanyssidae: Rhinonyssinae) with a description of two new species.
Journal of Parasitology, 58: 1162-1169.
Pence, D.B. 1975. Keys, species and host list, and bibliography for nasal mites of
North American birds (Acarina: Rhinonyssinae, Turbinoptinae,
Speleognathinae, and Cytoditidae). Special Publications of the Museum Texas
Tech University, 8: 1-148.
Spicer, G.S. 1987. Prevalence and host-parasite list of some nasal mites from birds (Acarina:
Rhinonyssidae, Speleognathidae). Journal of Parasitology, 73: 259-264.
Wilson, N. 1964. New records and descriptions of Rhinonyssidae, mostly from New
Guinea (Acarina: Mesostigmata). Pacific Insects, 6: 357-388.