Fig 99 (a). Ptilonyssus hirsti female dorsal habitus.
Fig 99 (b). Ptilonyssus hirsti female dorsum.
Fig 99 (c). Ptilonyssus hirsti female venter.
Ptilonyssus (=Neonyssus) hirsti (Castro & Periera, 1947)
North American host records:
Passeridae
Passer domesticus, House Sparrow (Porter and Strandtmann 1952; Fain and Hyland 1963; Wilson 1964; Pence 1975; Knee et al. 2008)
Diagnostic characteristics:
– two dorsal shields, podosomal and fused opisthosomal and pygidial shields
– posterior margin of podosomal shield is straight
– opisthosomal shield is twice as long as wide
– opisthosomal shield without lateral excavation
– posterior margin of opisthosomal shield is rounded, occasionally it is invaginated forming an inverted V indent
– anterior margin of opisthosomal shield is straight
– st1 st2 and st3 off the sternal shield
– subapical ventral setal pair on tarsus IV are relatively long filamentous spikes with long flexible tips
– six pairs of ventral opisthosomal setae
– four 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
– minute 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 unequal in length
References:
Castro, M.P., and C. Pereira. 1947. Acaros nasicolas (Parasitiformes: Rhinonyssidae) do pardal
– “Passer domesticus L.”. Arquivos do Instituto Biologico, 18: 125-133.Fain, A., and Hyland, K.E. 1963. Deus nouveaux rhinonyssides communs aux faunes d’Amerique
du Nord et de Belgique. Bulletin and Annales de la Societe Royale d’Entomologie
de Belgique, 99: 375-386.
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.
Porter, J.C. and Strandtmann, R.W. 1952. Nasal mites of the English Sparrow. The
Texas Journal of Science, 4: 393-399.
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.
Wilson, N. 1964. New records and descriptions of Rhinonyssidae, mostly
from New Guinea (Acarina: Mesostigmata). Pacific Insects, 6: 357-388.
