| abstract | This study is a revision of the mites of the family Epidermoptidae (Sarcoptiformes). These mites are living on or in the skin of birds. In some species of the genus Myialges the female, after fertilisation, leaves the bird and fixes herself to the hippoboscids or the mallophagans that live on this bird.
From the phytogenetic point of view these mites seem to be closely related on the one hand to the skin mites of mammals (Psoroptidae) and on the other hand to the feather mites of the family Analgidae. These relationships are discussed and provisional limits are ascribed to the group.
The author proposes to retain in the family Epidermoptidae the following genera: Epidermoptes, Dermation, Rivoltasia, Microlichus and Myialges. Three new genera are added to this group: Passeroptes, Apodicoptes and Psittophagoides. All these genera are grouped in two subfamilies: Epidermoptinae and Dermationinae.
Only a few number of species (19 on total) had been described so far. During these last years I have collected a large number of epidermoptid mites from various hosts and countries. This material comprises 44 new species. Among them 35 are described and figured here for the first time. The typical material of most of the old species could be re-examined and re-descirbed.
The morphology of the Epidermoptidae is studied in detail and the importance of the chaetotaxy and the solenidiotaxy in the classification of these mites is emphasized.
Previously Evans, Fain and Bafort (1963) had elucidated the life cycle of the genus Myialges. The immatures stages, the males and the young females live in the skin of the bird while the gravid female is found only as an hyperparasite on the hippoboscids that infest this bird.
The postembryonic development has been studied in several other genera. A protonymph and a tritonymph seem to be always present. It appears that in some species there are two morphologically different tritonymphs, one that gives rise to the female, the other that develops into a male.
The lesions produced on the skin of the birds by these mites vary according to the genus and the species to which the mite belongs. In most of the cases the lesions are superficial and consist of scurfiness and pytiriasis. The mites of the genus Microlichus are able to produce severe mange lesions. They invade the feather bulbs which become swollen and congested. Some species of the genus Myialges burrow sinuous galleries into the corneous layer of the skin. These lesions recall closely those observed in the sarcoptic mange of mammals.
Keys of the family, genera and species are given. Two lists, one of the species and one of the hosts are completing the revision of the Epidermoptidae. |