Feather mites of the genera Dubininia and Cacatualges (Acari: Xolalgidae) associated with parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes) of the Old World.

This paper gives a systematic revision of feather mites of the genera Dubininia Vassilev, 1958 and Cacatualges Dabert, Badek and Skoracki, 2007 (Xolalgidae: Ingrassiinae) associated with parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes) of the Old World. Five new species are described: Cacatualges probosciger sp. n. from Probosciger aterrimus (Gmelin) (Cacatuidae) from New Guinea, Dubininia charmosynae sp. n. from Charmosyna pulchella Gray GR (Psittaculidae) from New Guinea, D. micropsittae sp. n. from Micropsitta pusio pusio (Scaltter) (Psittaculidae) from New Guinea, D. nestori sp. n. from Nestor notabilis Gould (Strigopidae) from New Zealand, and D. pezopori sp. n. from Pezoporus wallicus (Kerr) (Psittaculidae) from Tasmania, Australia. Four previously described species of Dubininia are redescribed based on material from type hosts: D. curta (Trouessart, 1885) from Platycercus elegans (Gmelin) (Psittaculidae), D. lorina (Trouessart, 1885) from Lorius domicella (Linnaeus) (Psittaculidae), D. melopsittaci Atyeo and Gaud, 1987 from Melopsittacus undulatus (Shaw) (Psittaculidae), and D. psittacina (Trouessart, 1885) from Strigops harboptilus Gray GR (Strigopidae) from New Zealand. A new diagnosis for the genus Dubininia is provided. A key to all presently known Dubininia species is provided for the first time.

Fine structure of the male genital system of the predatory mite Rhagidia halophila (Rhagidiidae, Prostigmata, Actinotrichida).

The male genital system of the actinotrichid mite Rhagidia halophila is described and compared with other mites and arachnids. The large testes are composed of germinal and glandular parts and produce numerous small sperm cells. The glandular parts are connected via a testicular bridge. Spermiogenesis occurs in cysts containing spermatids in equal stages of development. Cysts of spermatids are embedded in huge somatic cells. The nuclei of the spermatids loose their envelope. Mature sperm cells are simple exhibiting a ring-shaped chromatin body and lacking an acrosomal complex. They are most similar to the sperm cells of the related mite Linopodes motatorius. The spermatopositor contains the ejaculatory duct divided into a dorsal channel and a ventral channel that are connected via a narrow passage. At its distal end, the spermatopositor is divided into three eugenital lips. The function of the spermatopositor during deposition of the peculiar thread-like spermatophores is discussed. Details of the sensilla of the spermatopositor and the progenital lips are reported. The genital papillae located on the inner side of the progenital lips exhibit characteristics of cells performing transport of ions and/or water. The results confirm the overall similarity of actinotrichid genital systems, which is profoundly different from that of anactinotrichid mites. With reference to other Arachnida it is corroborated that testes and sperm structure of Actinotrichida are most similar to that of Solifugae. However, synapomorphies between sperm cells of Rhagidia and Solifugae that could suggest a closer relationship between these two taxa as was suggested in earlier studies were not recognizable. On the contrary, the sperm cells of Rh. halophila being devoid of an acrosomal complex appeared to be more apomorphic than those of many other actinotrichid mites as well as Solifugae.

New species of the feather mite genus Protolichus Trouessart, 1884 (Astigmata, Pterolichidae) from lories and lorikeets (Aves: Psittaciformes).

Five new species of the feather mite genus Protolichus Trouessart, 1884 (Astigmata, Pterolichidae) are described from parrots of the subfamily Loriinae (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae): Protolichus ornatus sp. n. from Trichoglossus ornatus (Linnaeus, 1758), P. lorinus sp. n. from Lorius lory (Linnaeus, 1758), P. placentis sp. n. from Charmosyna placentis (Temminck, 1835), P. pulchellae sp. n. from C. pulchella (Gray GR, 1859), and P. rubiginosus sp. n. from T. rubiginosus (Bonaparte, 1850). Protolichus ornatus belongs to the brachiatus species group; the other new species belong to the crassior species group.

New feather mite taxa of the Rhytidelasma Gaud, 1966 generic group (Astigmata: Pterolichidae) from the red-flanked lorikeet Charmosyna placentis placentis (Psittacidae).

Two new genera and species related to Rhytidelasma Gaud, 1966 and Lorilichus Atyeo & Gaud, 1991 are described from the plumage of the red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis placentis (Temminck) (Psittacidae). These are Ceratolichus mirabilis n. g., n. sp. and Charmosylichus anamphiestos n. g., n. sp. In addition, an improved diagnosis of Lorilichus is proposed and two new species of this genus are described from the red-flanked lorikeet, L. longiphallos n. sp. and L. paralobiger n. sp.

A revised diagnosis of the feather mite genus Magimelia Gaud, 1961 (Pterolichoidea: Pterolichidae: Magimeliinae) and the description of three new species.

Three new mite species of the genus Magimelia (Astigmata: Pterolichidae) are described from the plumage of various lapwings (Charadriidae: Vanellinae): M. breviloba n. sp. from Vanellus miles miles; M. thailandica n. sp. from V. indicus (type-host), V. duvaucelii and V. tricolor; and M. chilensis n. sp. from V. chilensis. An extended host range for M. dolichosikya Gaud, 1961 is given. A revised diagnosis of the genus and a key to known species are presented.