Feather mite explained

Feather mites are the members of diverse mite superfamilies:

• superorder Acariformes
  • Psoroptidia^[1]
    • Analgoidea^[2]
    • Freyanoidea
    • Pterolichoidea
• superorder Parasitiformes
  • Dermanyssoidea

They are ectoparasites on birds, hence the common name.

Notes and References

1. Mironov SV, Skirnisson K, Thorarinsdottir ST, Nielsen OK . Feather mites (Astigmata: Psoroptidia) parasitising the rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta (Montin) (Aves: Galliformes) in Iceland . Syst. Parasitol. . 75 . 3 . 187–206 . March 2010 . 20157794 . 10.1007/s11230-009-9219-1 . 2503558 .
2. Dabert J, Dabert M, Mironov SV . Phylogeny of feather mite subfamily Avenzoariinae (Acari: Analgoidea: Avenzoariidae) inferred from combined analyses of molecular and morphological data . Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. . 20 . 1 . 124–35 . July 2001 . 11421653 . 10.1006/mpev.2001.0948 .