Peristerophila Kethley, 1970

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 293-294

Genus Peristerophila Kethley, 1970

Peristerophila Kethley, 1970: 53

Type species: Syringophilus columbae Hirst, 1920 by original designation.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. Medium-sized syringophilids (total body length 520–815). Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex with 2 pairs of large and sausage-like median protuberances. Lateral hypostomal teeth absent. Peritremes M-shaped with clearly visible chambers. Movable cheliceral digit dentate, each with 2 minute teeth. Stylophore rounded posteriorly. Idiosoma . All idiosomal setae smooth. Five pairs of propodonotal setae present (vi —absent), arranged 2– 1–2. Propodonotal shield variable, without pocket-like structures, rectangular in shape, bearing bases of setae ve, si, se and c1 or represented by 3 vertical, sabre-like sclerites, bearing bases of setae ve, si, c1 and se. Hysteronotal shield variable, fused or not to pygidial shield. Setae d1 situated slightly closer to d2 than to e2 or equidistant between bases of setae d2 and e2. Pseudanal and genital series each with 2 pairs of setae. Aggenital series with 3 pairs of setae. Hysteronotal setae d1, d2 and e2 long. Terminal setae f2 and h2 long, f1 and h1 short. Legs. Legs I thicker than II–IV. Setae dFII–IV and vsII absent. Antaxial and paraxial members of claw pair subequal in size and shape, without basal angle. Apodemes I parallel fused to apodemes II.

MALE. Characters as in females except: small mites (total body length 350–600); hypostomal apex smooth; movable cheliceral digit edentate; propodonotal setae arranged 2–2–1. Setae d1 situated slightly closer to e2 than to d2 or equidistant between bases of setae d2 and e2; hysteronotal setae d2 long or short, d1 and e2 short, terminal setae f2, h2 short; aggenital series with 2 pairs of setae; apodemes I divergent.

Host range. Mites of this genus are associated with columbiform birds of the family Columbidae and falconiform birds of the family Accipitridae ( Table 19).

Habitat. Quills of pimaries, secondaries, tertiaries, primary coverts, secondary coverts, rectrices, and body feathers.

Species included. This genus comprises 2 species known from the Palaearctic (2 species), Neotropic (1), and Ethiopian (1) regions.