Dermanyssus hirundinis ( Hermann, 1804 )

Mašán, Peter, Fenďa, Peter, Krištofík, Ján & Halliday, Bruce, 2014, A review of the ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Dermanyssoidea) associated with birds and their nests in Slovakia, with notes on identification of some species, Zootaxa 3893 (1), pp. 77-100 : 83

Dermanyssus hirundinis ( Hermann, 1804)

Acarus hirundinis Hermann, 1804: 83 .

Dermanyssus hirundinis .— Evans & Till, 1962: 285, 1966: 356; Moss, 1968: 75, 1978: 634.

Taxonomic remarks. This species is often confused with Dermanyssus carpathicus (see taxonomic remarks for that species). It shows phenotypic variability in the length of the dorsal shield setae and the width of posterior portion of the dorsal shield. In Slovakia, populations identified here as Dermanyssus hirundinis may be a mixture of two morphologically similar species.

Occurrence and habitat. This species is widely distributed throughout Slovakia, and has been reported from the collection sites at altitudes between 100 and 1,650 m a.s.l., and from the nests of 41 host species (see below) representing nine orders of birds. Its host range differs from that of D. carpathicus , despite the fact that both species can occasionally be found together in the same nest, and relatively often in the nests of the same host species (22.8% of all identified birds). Its relative frequency in the nests of passeriform hosts (58.5%) is lower than that for D. carpathicus (69%). However this number is inflated by the affinity of D. hirundinis for nests built in artificial nest boxes, which are mostly exploited by small passeriform birds. Generally, it preferentially inhabits nests with dry and unlined depression to house the eggs, including (1) closed or open cup nests made from mud pellets by swallows and martins ( Hirundinidae ); (2) nest boxes used by cavity-nesting birds; (3) elevated platform nests of diurnal birds of prey ( Accipitriformes , Falconiformes ); (4) stick nests of crows, magpies and some owls; and (5) mound or floating platform nests of some water birds, mainly waterfowl ( Anseriformes ).

Host distribution. Bird nests: Accipiter gentilis , Acrocephalus arundinaceus ( Krištofík et al. 2001; Fenďa & Schniererová 2004, 2005), Anas crecca , Anas platyrhynchos ( Fenďa & Schniererová 2005, new data), Anser anser ( Fenďa & Schniererová 2005), Anthus spinoletta , Asio otus , Aythya ferina ( Fenďa & Schniererová 2005) , Aythya fuligula ( Fenďa & Schniererová 2005) , Carduelis carduelis, Chroicocephalus ridibundus ( Fenďa & Schniererová 2010, new data), Ciconia ciconia, Circus aeruginosus , Coracias garrulus , Cyanistes caeruleus , Delichon urbicum , Erithacus rubecula , Falco tinnunculus ( Kaľavský et al. 2009, new data), Falco vespertinus , Fulica atra ( Fenďa & Schniererová 2010, new data), Hirundo rustica ( Mrciak & Rosický 1956, Mašán & Országhová 1995, Országhová et al. 2006, new data), Ictinaetus pomarinus , Lanius minor , Luscinia megarhynchos , Merops apiaster ( Krištofík et al. 1996, Fenďa 2008), Milvus migrans , Motacilla alba , Motacilla cinerea , Nannus troglodytes , Parus major ( Švaňa et al. 2006, new data), Passer domesticus ( Mrciak 1977) , Passer montanus ( Krumpál et al. 2001, Švaňa et al. 2006, Fenďa et al. 2011, new data), Passer sp. ( Krumpál et al. 2001), Phoenicurus ochruros ( Krumpál et al. 1998) , Pica pica, Riparia riparia ( Mašán & Krištofík 1993, Krištofík et al. 1994, Fenďa 2008), Sitta europaea , Sturnus vulgaris ( Švaňa et al. 2006) , Sylvia atricapilla , Turdus merula , Turdus philomelos . Combined nests: Aves sp. and Apodemus sp., Ficedula albicollis and Glis glis , Parus major and Apodemus sp. Mammals: Glis glis ( Mašán & Krištofík 1996) , Mus musculus ( Mrciak 1963) . Other findings: moss, soil detritus of caves.

In former Czechoslovakia, Zeman & Jurík (1981) cited the species additionally from Ficedula albicollis , Poecile palustris (Linnaeus) and Strix aluco , with no geographic specification of individual records.

New data. Borská Nížina Lowland: 1 ♂, 16 August 1991, Malé Leváre Village (floodplain forest), Milvus migrans ; 10 ♀♀, 3 June 2008, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement , Falco tinnunculus . Jablunkovské Medzihorie Mts.: 3 ♀♀, 4 NN, 29 December 1985, Svrčinovec Village, Carduelis carduelis. Košická Kotlina Basin: 118 ♀♀, 13 NN, 22 October 1987, Moldava Nad Bodvou Village, Paňovský Les Forest, Glis glis ; 2 ♀♀, ibid., Cyanistes caeruleus ; 11 ♀♀, 6 NN, ibid., Aves sp. + Apodemus sp.; 6 ♀♀, 13 NN, ibid., Ficedula albicollis + Glis glis ; 5 ♀♀, ibid., Parus major + Apodemus sp. Kysucké Beskydy Mts.: 16 NN, 3 June 1987, Oščadnica Village, Anas crecca . Laborecká Vrchovina Highland: 1 ♀, 31 October 1998, 6 ♀♀, 2 January 1999, Svetlice Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus ; 1 ♀, 31 October 1998, Palota Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus ; 19 ♀♀, 31 October 1998, Rokytov Pri Humennom Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus ; 15 ♀♀, 2 January 1999, Palota Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus ; 11 ♀♀, 2 January 1999, Rokytovce Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus . Malá Fatra Mts.: 1 ♀, 2 NN, 9 July 2008, 1 N, 6 July 2009, 1 ♀, 31 October 2010, Turany Village, Veľký Kriváň Mt., Anthus spinoletta ; 1 N, 6 July 2009; 2 ♀♀, 31 October 2010, Turany Village, Snilovské Sedlo Mountain Pass, Anthus spinoletta ; 1 ♀, 31 October 2010, Šútovo Village, Chleb Mt., Anthus spinoletta . Malé Karpaty Mts.: 2 ♀♀, 16 September 1989, Bratislava Capital , zoological garden, Passer montanus ; 17 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 9 NN, 12 July 1990, Bratislava Capital , zoological garden, Passer montanus ; 3 ♀♀, 1 N, 25 July 1990, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest , Nannus troglodytes ; 2,002 ♀♀, 85 ♂♂, 211 NN, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest , Hirundo rustica ; 10 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest , Motacilla cinerea ; 1 ♀, 3 June 1992, Bratislava Capital , zoological garden, Turdus merula ; 14 ♀♀, 17 December 1998, Borinka Village, Trojuholník Cave (soil). Moravsko-sliezske Beskydy Mts.: 1 ♀, 30 June 1997, Klokočov Village, Malý Polom Mt. (moss). Podunajská Rovina Lowland: 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 15 January 1985, Svätý Jur Village, Šúr Nature Reserve, Parus major ; 1 ♀, 4 July 1989, Dunajská Lužná Village (windbreak), Pica pica; 11 ♀♀, 3 August 1989, Bodíky Village, Ciconia ciconia; 214 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂, 5 NN, 3 August 1989, Dunajská Lužná Village (windbreak), Asio otus ; 1 ♀, 2 July 1990, Trstená Na Ostrove Village, Kráľovská Lúka Arm (floodplain forest), Sylvia atricapilla ; 25 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂, 6 July 1990, Šamorín Town (windbreak), Pica pica; 3 ♀♀, 5 September 1990, Gabčíkovo Village, Delichon urbicum ; 3 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Chroicocephalus ridibundus ; 2 ♂♂, 2 NN, 26 July 1991, Accipiter gentilis ; 1 ♀, 4 September 1991, Gabčíkovo Village, Motacilla alba ; 1 ♀, 10 September 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Circus aeruginosus ; 5 NN, 3 August 1992, Jarovce Village (windbreak), Turdus philomelos ; 103 ♀♀, 14 ♂♂, 14 NN, 17 July 1993, Veľké Blahovo Village (windbreak), Falco vespertinus ; 57 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂, 10 NN, 17 May 1994, Bratislava Capital, Krasňany Settlement , Erithacus rubecula ; 1 ♀, 2 August 1994, Rusovce Village (windbreak), Falco vespertinus ; 1 ♀, 30 August 1996, Medveďov Village (floodplain forest), Luscinia megarhynchos ; 1 ♀, 7 NN, 23 June 1998, Rusovce Village (windbreak), Falco tinnunculus ; 15 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂, 3 NN, 23 August 1998, Rusovce Village (windbreak), Falco vespertinus ; 1 ♀, 4 NN, 27 June 2001, Bratislava Capital, Podunajské Biskupice Settlement , Lanius minor ; 3 ♀♀, 16 July 2007, Martovce Village, Coracias garrulus ; 406 ♀♀, 78 ♂♂, 24 NN, 3 July 2009, Alžbetin Dvor Village, Falco tinnunculus . Považské Podolie Basin: 3 ♀♀, 13 August 1989, Dubnica Nad Váhom Town, Parus major . Slovenský Raj Mts.: 1 ♀, 28 July 2000, Spišská Nová Ves Town, Medvedia Jaskyňa Cave (soil); 16 NN, 11 July 2012, Stratená Village, Duča Cave (soil and litter). Starohorské Vrchy Mts.: 8 ♀♀, 13 September 1989, 327 ♀♀, 12 ♂♂, 329 NN, 17 September 1989, Staré Hory Village, Delichon urbicum . Trnavská Pahorkatina Hills: 547 ♀♀, 112 ♂♂, 75 NN, 23 September 2012, Horná Streda Village, Hirundo rustica ; 8 ♀♀, 12 August 1982, Budmerice Village, Passer domesticus . Veľká Fatra Mts.: 6,510 ♀♀, 2,185 ♂♂, 13,517 NN, 29 August 1991, Stankovany Village, Podšíp Settlement, Parus major ; 9 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 27 NN, 26 June 1993, Stankovany Village, Podšíp Settlement, Sitta europaea . Vihorlatské Vrchy Mts.: 8 ♀♀, 28 December 1998, Ptičie Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus .