RESEARCH NOTE / NOTA CIENTÍFICA

Abstract

Two mite species of the genus Neharpyrhynchus (Acariformes: Harpirhynchidae) were recorded on

wild birds in Peru: Neharpyrhynchus trochilinus from Amazilia lacteal, and A. chionogaster (both

Apodiformes: Trochilidae) and Neharpyrhynchus tangara from Thraupis episcopus

(Passeriformers: Thraupidae). Records from A. chionogaster and T. episcopus represent new host-

parasite associations. Mites of this genus were found in Peru for the first time.

Key words: Amazilia – birds – Ectoparasites – mites – Neharpyrhynchus –Thraupis.

THE FIRST RECORDS OF MITES OF THE GENUS NEHARPYRHYNCHUS (ACARIFORMES:

HARPIRHYNCHIDAE) FROM BIRDS IN PERU

PRIMEROS REGISTROS DE ACAROS DEL GENERO NEHARPYRHYNCHUS

(ACARIFORMES: HARPIRHYNCHIDAE) EN AVES DEL PERU

1* 2 3 4

Ivan Literák , Andre V. Bochkov , Jorge Cárdenas-Callirgos and Miroslav Čapek

Resumen

Dos especies de ácaros del género Neharpyrhynchus (Acariformes: Harpirhynchidae) fueron

registrados en aves silvestres del Perú: Neharpyrhynchus trochilinus ex Amazilia lactea y A.

chionogaster (ambos Apodiformes: Trochilidae) y Neharpyrhynchus tangara ex Thraupis episcopus

(Passeriformes: Thraupidae). Los registros en A. chionogaster y T. episcopus representan nuevas

asociaciones huesped - parásito. Los ácaros de este género fueron reportados por primera vez para el

Perú.

Palabras clave: Acaros –Amazilia – aves – Ectoparasitos –Neharpyrhynchus –Thraupis.

1Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3,

612 42 Brno, Czech Republic, E-mail: literaki@vfu.cz

2Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Embankment 1, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia, E-mail: prostigmata@zin.ru

3Laboratorio de Invertebrados, Museo de Historia Natural, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas,

Universidad Ricardo Palma, Av. Benavides 54440, Lima 33, Perú, E-mail: jmcardenasc@gmail.com

4Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic, E-mail: capek@ivb.cz

Suggested citation: Literák, I, Bochkov, AV, Cárdenas-Callirgos, J & Čapek, M. 2012. The first records of mites of

the genus Neharpyrhynchus (Acariformes: Harpirhynchidae) from birds in Peru. Neotropical Helminthology, vol. 6,

nº1, pp. 109 - 114.

Neotrop. Helminthol., 6(1), 2012

2012 Asociación Peruana de Helmintología e Invertebrados Afines (APHIA)

ISSN: 2218-6425 impreso / ISSN: 1995-1043 on line

109

INTRODUCTION

Mites of the family Harpirhynchidae

(Acariformes: Cheyletoidea) are permanent

mono- or oligoxenous parasites of birds and

snakes of the superfamily Colubroidea (mites of

the subfamily Ophioptinae) (Bochkov et al.,

1 9 9 9 ) . T h e h a r p i r h y n c h i d g e n u s

Neharpyrhynchus Fain (Acariformes:

Harpirhynchidae) includes 14 species recorded

from passerine birds (Passeriformes) mostly in

the Holarctic Region and only four species are

known from Neotropical passerines: N. baile

Bochkov, Literak and Capek, 2007 from Turdus

leucomelas Viellot, 1818 (Passeriformes:

Turdidae) (Bochkov et al. 2007), N.

chlorospingus Bochkov and Literak, 2011 from

Chlorospingus pileatus Salvin, 1865

(Passeriformes: Emberizidae), N. mironovi

Bochkov and Literak, 2011 from Dacnis cayana

(Linnaeus, 1766) and N. tangara Bochkov and

Literak, 2011 from Tangara cayana (Linnaeus,

1766) (Passeriformes: Thraupidae) (Bochkov &

Literak, 2011). Additionally, one species N.

trochilinus (Fain, 1972) is associated with South

American hummingbirds (Apodiformes:

Trochilidae) (Bochkov & Literak, 2011). Mites

of this genus occur relatively rarely (Martinu et

al., 2008) and until now there were no data on

their occurrence on birds in Peru. In this

contribution we provide new host and locality

records for two Neharpyrhynchus species

collected on wild birds in Peru in summer 2011.

Mist nets were used to trap wild birds in Peru

in summer 2011. Birds trapped were subjected

to naked eye examination for the presence of

neharpyrhynchid mites which are usually

localized at the base of feathers on head

(Martinu et al., 2008; Bochkov & Literak,

2011). The mites were removed using a

tweezer and preserved in 96 % ethyl alcohol.

After examination, all the birds were released

back into the wild as quickly as possible to

minimize disturbance. Four study sites were as

follows: Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Pantanos

de Villa, Lima, 12°13´S, 76°59W, at the see

level, 50 birds of 10 species were examined from

19 to 22 July 2011) (i); Centro URKU, Tarapoto,

06°27´S, 76°21´W, 410 m a.s.l., 39 birds of 21

species were examined from 8 to 10 August 2011

(ii); Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo Mishana,

Iquitos, 03º58'S, 73º25'W, 134 m a.s.l., 40 birds

of 16 species were examined from 13 to 16

August 2011 (iii); and Cascay, Huanuco,

09º50'S, 76º08'W, 1845 m a.s.l., 104 birds of 18

species were examined from 20 to 23 August

2011(iv). A total of 233 birds of 57 species were

examined (Table 1).

Mites were cleared in lactophenol and mounted

in Hoyer's medium. Specimens were studied

using a Leica microscope under Nomarsky

interference-contrast-phase (DIC) optics. The

scientific names of birds follow the checklist of

Clements et al. (2011). Voucher specimens were

deposited in collections in the Zoological

Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences,

Saint Petersburg, Russia (ZISP) and in the

Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Ricardo

Palma, Lima, Peru (MHN).

Neharpyrhynchus trochilinus (Fain, 1972)

Material examined. 20 females (ZISP AVB

2011-3011-001, # 1-20, numbers in collection of

ZISP) from Amazilia lactea (Lesson, 1932) [new

location], PERU: San Martin Department, San

Martin Province, Tarapoto, Centro URKU

(06°27´ S, 76°21), 8 August 2011, coll. I. Literak

(field number TR23); 14 females (ZISP AVB

2011-3011-002, # 1-14) from Amazilia

chionogaster (Tschudi, 1846) [new host, new

location], PERU: Huanuco Department,

Huanuco Province, Churubamba, Cascay

(09º50' S, 76º80' W), 21 August 2011, coll. I.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Literáket al.

Neharpyrhynchus from birds in Peru

MATERIAL AND METHODS

110

Neotrop. Helminthol., 6(1), 2012

Literak (field number HU40); 3 females (ZISP

AVB 2011-3011-003, # 1-3) with the same data,

coll. I. Literak (field number HU54); 11 females

(ZISP AVB 2011-3011-004, # 1-11) from the

same host and locality, 22 August 2011, col. I.

Literak (field number HU61); 8 females (ZISP

AVB 2011-3011-005, # 1-8), with the same data,

coll. I. Literak (field number HU71). Most

specimens are deposited in the ZISP, five

vouchers are deposited in the MHN.

Prevalences. N. trochilinus was recorded on one

(50%) of the two specimens of Amazilia lactea

and on four (21%) of 19 specimens of Amazilia

chionogaster examined.

This species was described from an

undetermined hummingbird originated from

South America and died in the Antwerp Zoo,

Belgium (Fain, 1972). Later, N. trochilinus was

recorded on other South American hummingbird

Chrysolampis mosquitus (Linnaeus, 1758)

which also died in the Antwerp Zoo (Fain, 1995).

Recently N. trochilinus has been reported on A.

lactea from Brazil, Panterpe insignis Cabanis

and Heine, 1860 and Eugenes fulgens

(Swainson, 1827), both from Costa Rica

(Bochkov & Literak, 2011).

Neharpyrhynchus tangara Bochkov and

Literak, 2011

(Figure 1)

Material examined. 18 females (ZISP AVB

2011-3011-006, # 1-18) from Thraupis

episcopus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Passeriformes:

Figure 1. Mites Neharpyrhynchus tangara (Bochkov and Literak, 2011) at the bases of feather shafts around an ear aperture of a

bird host, Thraupis episcopus (Thraupidae) showing females, eggs, embryos and exuviae (photo by Zuzana Literáková).

111

Literáket al.

Neharpyrhynchus from birds in Peru

Thraupidae) [new host, new location], PERU:

Huanuco Department, Huanuco Province,

Churubamba, Cascay (09º50' S, 76º80' W), 22

August 2011, coll. I. Literak (field number

HU64); 20 females (ZISP AVB 2011-3011-007,

# 1-20) with the same data, coll. I. Literak (field

number HU65); 16 females (ZISP AVB 2011-

3011-008, # 1-16) with the same data, coll. I.

Literak (field number HU72). Most specimens

are deposited in the ZISP and five vouchers are

deposited in the MHN.

Prevalence. N. tangara was recorded on three

(16%) of the 19 specimens of Thraupis

episcopus examined.

This species has recently been described from T.

cayana (Passeriformes: Thraupidae) from Brazil

(Bochkov and Literak, 2011).

The most of the Neotropical parasites of birds

are poorly known and more research is needed to

better understand their diversity and life

histories.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Martina Literáková, Zuzana

Literáková, Lizzie Ortiz Cam, Henry Gonzales

Pinedo, Joel Vasquez Bardales, Kember Mejia

Carhuanca, Rosario Ignacia Flores y Vilar,

Karen Shane Verde Guerra, Leonel Arnold

Trujillo Rodriguez, Marco Durand Torres, Helen

Catay Carrillo and Kelma Miraval Valdivia for

their cooperation in the field. A special thanks

goes to Daniel Valle Basto from Refugio de Vida

Silvestre Los Pantanos de Villa, Lima for a

permission to work in the wetland reserve. The

field work in the other locations was covered by

a permission from responsible Peruvian

authorities licensed for Lic. Mercedes Gonzales

de la Cruz (MHN). The study was supported in

part by the Grant Agency of the Academy of

Sciences of the Czech Republic (grant

IAA601690901) and by the Ministry of

Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech

Republic (grant LC06073).

Table 1. A list of birds examined (PV, Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Pantanos de Villa, Lima; TR, Centro URKU,

Tarapoto; IQ, Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo Mishana, Iquitos; HU, Cascay, Huanuco).

Columbidae

Columbina cruziana (Prévost, 1842) 2

Columbina minuta (Linnaeus, 1766)

Leptotila rufaxilla (Richard and Bernard, 1792) 3

Leptotila verreauxi Bonaparte, 1855

Trochilidae

Amazilia amazilia (Lesson, 1826)

Amazilia fimbriata (Gmelin, 1788)

Amazilia chionogaster (Tschudi, 1846) 4/19

Amazilia lactea

(Lesson, 1832)

1/2

Doryfera johannae (Bourcier, 1847)

Glaucis hirsutus

(Gmelin, 1788)

TR (2), IQ (3)

Phaethornis atrimentalis Lawrence, 1858 4

Phaethornis superciliosus (Linnaeus, 1766 10

TR (5), IQ (5)

Thalurania furcata (Gmelin, 1788) 1 IQ

Threnetes leucurus (Linnaeus, 1766) 3 TR

Family/Species

No. of birds examined

or No. of birds

parasitized/examined Locations

112

Literáket al.

Neharpyrhynchus from birds in Peru

Cuculidae

Crotophaga ani

Linneaus, 1758

Ardeidae

Butorides striata

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Ixobrychus exilis

(Gmelin, 1789)

Laridae

Larus belcheri

Vigors, 1829 1

Bucconidae

Bucco macrodactylus (Spix, 1824)

Falconidae

Falco sparverius

Linnaeus, 1758

PV (1), HU (1)

Furnariidae

Dendrocincla fuliginosa (Vieillot, 1818) 3

Glyphorynchus spirurus (Vieillot, 1819) 5

Phleocryptes melanops (Vieillot, 1817) 9

Thamnophilidae

Thamnophilus schistaceus (d´Orbigny, 1835) 2

Tyrannidae

Elaenia spectabilis Pelzeln, 1868

Leptopogon amaurocephalus Tschudi, 1846 1

Mionectes oleagineus (Lichtenstein, 1823) 7

TR (1), IQ (6)

Pitangus lictor (Lichtenstein, 1823)

Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) 1

Sayornis nigricans (Swainson, 1827) 3

Tachuris rubrigastra (Vieillot, 1817) 23

Todirostrum cinereum (Linnaeus, 1766) 1

Tolmomyias flaviventris (Wied, 1831) 1

Tyrannus melancholicus Viellot, 1819 2 HU

Pipridae

Lepidothrix coronata (Spix, 1825) 4 IQ

Machaeropterus pyrocephalus (Sclater, 1852) 3 TR (2), IQ (1)

Manacus manacus Linnaeus, 1766) 1 IQ

Pipra fasciicauda Helmayr, 1906 2 TR

Tityridae

Pachyramphus polychopterus (Vieillot, 1818) 4 TR (2), IQ (2)

Vireonidae

Vireo olivaceus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Hirundinidae

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca (Viellot, 1817)

Troglodytidae

Campylorhynchus fasciatus (Swainson, 1837)

Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, 1808

Polioptilidae

Ramphocaenus melanurus Vieillo, 1819

Turdidae

Turdus ignobilis Sclater, 1857

TR (1), HU (1)

Thraupidae

Oryzoborus angolensis (Linnaeus, 1766) 3 IQ

Ramphocelus carbo (Pallas, 1764) 1 IQ

Tachyphonus luctuosus d´Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1847 1 TR

Thraupis episcopus (Linnaeus, 1766) 3/19 HU

Family/Species

No. of birds examined

or No. of birds

parasitized/examined Locations

(Continued Table 1)

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Neotrop. Helminthol., 6(1), 2012

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

Bochkov, AV & Literak, I. 2011.

Bochkov, AV, Mironov, SV & Fain, A. 1999.

Bochkov, AV, Literak, I & Capek, M. 2007.

Clements, JF, Schulenberg, TS, Iliff, MJ, Sulivan,

BL, Wood, CL & Robertson, D. 2011.

Fain, A. 1972.

Fain, A. 1995.

Mites of the genus

Neharpyrhynchus Fain (Acariformes,

Harpirhynchidae) from Neotropical birds.

ZooKeys, vol. 89, pp. 15–31.

Phylogeny and host parasite relationships

of the mite family Harpirhynchidae (Acari:

Prostigmata). Acarina, vol. 7, pp. 69–87.

Neharpyrhynchus baile n. sp. (Prostigmata:

Harpirhynchidae) parasitizing Turdus

leucomelas Vieillot (Aves: Turdidae) from

Brazil. International Journal of Acarology,

vol. 33, pp. 35–39.

The

Clements checklist of birds of the world:

V e r s i o n 6 . 6 .

(http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementsche

cklist/downloadable-clements-checklist,

accessed 29 January, 2012).

Notes sur les families Cheyletidae et

Harpyrhynchidae productrices de gales

chez les oiseaux ou les mammiferes. Acta

Zoologica et Pathologica Antverpiensia,

vol. 56, pp. 37–60.

New observations on the

Harpirhynchidae Dubinin, 1957 (Acari:

Prostigmata). II. On some new or little-

known taxa in the Harpirhynchinae.

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Naturelles de Belgique, Entomologie, vol.

65, pp. 73–100. A

revi e w of m i tes o f the g enu s

Neharpyrhynchus Fa in (Acari:

Harpirhynchidae) – ectoparasites of wild

birds, including description of four new

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Martinu, J, Dusbabek, F & Literak, I. 2008.

Correspondence to author/ Autor para

correspondencia:

Ivan Literák

Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases,

Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology,

University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical

Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech

Republic

Tel.: +420 541 562 630

Fax: +420 541 562 631

E-mail/ correo electrónico:

literaki@vfu.cz

Received December 11, 2011.

Accepted January 28, 2012.

Family/Species

No. of birds examined

or No. of birds

parasitized/examined Locations

(Continued Table 1)

Emberizidae

Zonotrichia capensis (Müller, 1776)

Diglossa sittoides (d´Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1838)

Sicalis luteola (d´Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1837)

Sporophila nigricollis Vieillot, 1823)

Sporophila telasco (Lesson, 1828)

Tiaris obscurus (d´Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1837) 3 TR

Cardinalidae

Pheucticus chrysogaster (Lesson, 1832) 5 HU

Fringillidae

Carduellis magellanica (Vieillot, 1805) 14 HU

Total 8/233

114