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Photo#935295
Feather Mite - Freyana

Feather Mite - Freyana
Champaign County, Illinois, USA
May 29, 2014
Size: <1-2 mm
This mite was found on the lower end of the feather shaft of a Canada goose flight feather which was discarded in my yard. I haven't been able to find any references to similar mites; I'm sorry about the bad quality of the microscopic image also provided. While exact size not known, no more than 1 mm possible given image quality at minimum focal distance, and probably less than 1 mm

Images of this individual: tag all
Feather Mite - Freyana Feather Mite - Freyana

Moved
Moved from Psoroptidia.

Moved
Moved from Mites and Ticks.

feather mite (Astigmata: Psoroptidia)
This is a feather mite, not a fowl mite ('fowl mites' s.s. belong to the genus Dermanyssus in the Mesostigmata - yes, common names are misleading!).

Based on the setal patterns and robust bases of the anterior coxae, this is a Freyana (Astigmata: Pterolichoidea: Freyanida). Most likely a nymph because I can't see any evidence of male or female genitalia; however, it could also be a poorly sclerotized female. For photos of slide-mounted specimens, see http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/programs/iip/?Page=4481 Freyana are common commensals on waterfowl, including Canada geese.

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