A review of feather mites of the Psittophagus generic group [Astigmata, Pterolichidae] with descriptions of new taxa from parrots [Aves, Psittaciformes] of the Old World

A systematic review of pterolichid feather mites of the Psittophagus generic group (Pterolichidae, Pterolichinae) is presented. New feather mite taxa are described: Psittaculobius quadriglobus gen. nov., sp. nov. from the Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda (type host) and the Red-breasted Parakeet P. alexandri (Psittacidae, Psittacinae), Psittophagus calyptorhynchi sp. nov. from the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus (Cacatuidae, Calyptorhynchinae). A key to all genera and species of the Psittophagus group and taxonomic comments on formerly described species are provided, and host-parasite associations of these mites with the parrots from the Old World are briefly discussed. It is hypothesised that the Psittophagus group originated on the ancestors of Psittaciformes at the same time as other pterolichine groups specific to parrots, but in the process of coevolution with these hosts it has achieved significant success on Cacatuidae only, while on Psittacidae, the representatives of this group have been retained only on few phylogenetic lineages in the Old World.