Phylogeny and evolution of parasitism in feather mites of the families Epidermoptidae and Dermationidae (Acari: Analgoidea)

A phylogenetic reconstruction of feather mites of the epidermoptid complex (Analgoidea: Epidermoptidae, Dermationidae, and Knemidocoptidae) was carried out by methods of parsimony-based cladistics. The epidermoptid complex splits into two major branches, Epidermoptidae and Dermationidae. The family Dermationidae is monophyletic, while the Epidermoptidae, as previously defined, is paraphyletic. The family Knemidocoptidae is reduced to the subfamilial rank because it arises from the core of the Epidermoptidae. The subfamily Myialginae Trouessart, 1906 stat. resur. is restored within the Epidermoptidae. The aberrant genera Lukoschuscoptes and Apocnemidocoptes are moved from Knemidocoptidae to Epidermoptidae and Dermationidae, respectively. A hypothesis explaining main trends in morphological and ecological adaptations to parasitism on birds within the epidermoptid complex is proposed. New taxonomic diagnoses for higher taxa (families and subfamilies) are provided, and three new genera-Archemyialges gen. n., Hemimyialges gen. n. (Epidermoptidae), and Trochiloptes gen. n. (Dermationidae)-and a new subfamily-Apocnemidocoptinae-are established.