A new feather mite of the genus Xolalgoides (Acariformes: Xolalgidae) from the Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (Passeriformes: Mimidae)

Abstract

A new feather mite species, Xolalgoides mimicola sp. n., is described from the Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus), in Florida, USA. Males of X. mimicola clearly differs from all previously known species in having a rectangular area with rough transverse striation anterior to the genital apparatus, and by the absence of lacunae on the dorsal side of opisthosomal lobes. Females of the new species are most close to those of X. arrhenurus (Gaud and Mouchet, 1959), and differs from them in having dorsal idiosomal setae d2 and e2 situated on the hysteronotal shield. This is the first record of a feather mite of the genus Xolalgoides from the family of mockingbirds (Mimidae).