Mesostigmata
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Taxonomy
updated 2025
Name
Dermanyssus Duges (including Microdermanyssus Moss)
Classification
Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Infraorder Gamasina » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Superfamily Dermanyssoidea » Family Dermanyssidae » Genus Dermanyssus
Diagnostic characters
- Hypertrichous dermanyssoid mites with very long, stylet-like chelicerae that feed on the blood of birds
- Dorsal shield entire or with a few ancillary posterior scutellae
- Sternal shield reduced and bearing 1–2 pairs of setae
- Anal shield relatively large
- Genital shield relatively broad and bearing 1 pair of setae
- Peritremes very short or reaching to anterior margin of coxae II
- Tritosternum biflagellate; seta j3 absent.
Similar taxa
Macronyssidae, Liponyssoides
Ecology and distribution
Blood-feeding parasites of vertebrates. The red poultry mite or pigeon mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer), is a significant pest of poultry and often bites people.
References
- Evans and Till 1966Evans and Till 1966:
Evans GO, Till WM. 1966. Studies on the British Dermanyssidae (Acari: Mesostigmata). Part II. Classification. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 14: 107–370.
- Moss 1968Moss 1968:
Moss WW. 1968. An illustrated key to the species of the acarine genus Dermanyssus (Mesostigmata: Laelapoidea: Dermanyssidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 5: 67–84.
