Feather Mites (Acari: Astigmata): Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution

Birds host many lineages of symbiotic mites, but the greatest diversity is shown by the three superfamilies of astigmatan feather mites: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea, and Freyanoidea. Members of this diphyletic grouping have colonized all parts of the avian integument from their ancestral nidicolous habitat. Whereas some clearly feed on feather pith or skin, acting as parasites, other feather mites are paraphages and consume feather oils without causing structural damage. Sexual dimorphism in feather mites is often extreme, and little is known of the function of many elaborate male structures. Abundance and location of vane-dwelling mites is affected by season, temperature, light, humidity, and host body condition. Because transmission between hosts usually depends on host body contact, it is unsurprising that feather mite phylogeny often parallels host phylogeny; however, recent cladistic analyses have also found evidence of host-jumping and "missing the boat" in several mite lineages.