Family ASCOURACARIDAE Gaud & Atyeo, 1976

Museums

Regional Maps

• Ascouracarinae Gaud, J. & Atyeo, W.T. 1976. Ascouracarinae, n. sub-fam. des Syringobiidae, sarcoptiformes plumicoles. Acarologia 18: 143-162.

Introduction

The Ascouracaridae is a family of seven genera and 21 species, which occur in the feathers of a wide variety of birds, including domestic poultry (Gaud & Atyeo 1996; OConnor 2009). Their feeding can cause significant damage to the flight feathers and tail feathers of their host (Dabert & Ehrnsberger 1992). The Australian fauna includes only one species in each of three genera, and all of the species were described after 1990. As with most families of feather mites, many more species are likely to be discovered when the feathers of Australian birds are surveyed in more detail.

General References

Dabert, J. & Ehrnsberger, R. 1992. Neue Arten bei der Federmilbenfamilie Ascouracaridae Gaud & Atyeo, 1976. Osnabrücker Naturwissenschaftliche Mitteilungen 18: 109-150

Gaud, J. & Atyeo, W.T. 1996. Feather mites of the world (Acarina, Astigmata) The supraspecific taxa. Annales du Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale Tervuren Belgique 277: Pt I, 1-193, Pt II, 1-436

OConnor, B.M. 2009. Cohort Astigmatina. pp. 565–657 in Krantz, G.W. & Walter, D.E. (eds). A Manual of Acarology. Lubbock, Texas : Texas Tech University Press Third edition, 807 pp.

History of changes