Dermanyssus carpathicus Zeman 1979

Dermanyssus carpathicus Zeman, 1979

Dermanyssus carpathicus Zeman, 1979: 173.

Taxonomic remarks. Dermanyssus carpathicus was originally described by Zeman (1979), based on specimens from Slovakia (type locality: Urpín Mt., Banská Bystrica Town, Central Slovakia), and it has never been redescribed by subsequent authors. Some authors may have confused this species with the strikingly similar D. hirundinis.

The high level of phenotypic variability in the genus Dermanyssus makes species identification difficult (Evans & Till 1962; Moss 1978; Roy et al. 2009a), and has led to many misinterpretations and misidentifications. In Slovakia, the name D. hirundinis has been widely used for misidentified specimens of D. carpathicus, which is very common in nests of various birds in Slovakia (almost all the published records below). We compared specimens of D. hirundinis from the specific host Hirundo rustica with other specimens that had been identified as this species, and collected from other bird hosts. This comparison showed that most of the Slovak specimens available for our re-examination and published in the past under the name D. hirundinis are actually D. carpathicus. These two species differ in several small details (e.g., in length of peritreme and shape of anal shield), but the most obvious differences are in the chaetotaxy of some leg segments, the position of the humeral platelets, the length of some leg setae, and the posteriormost setae inserted in the soft caudal integument (see the identification key).

We have not followed the diagnostic key for identification of the gallinae -group species from France provided by Roy et al. (2009a), because it includes several morphological inconsistencies. We cannot confirm the character states used there for separation of Dermanyssus carpathicus from the other species found in France, in particular (1) seta al1 on the palpgenu is not characteristically formed, and does not differ from that in D. hirundinis; and (2) the two dorsal setae on femur I are longer than the other three setae in both species, not only in D. carpathicus (these two elongated setae are slightly longer and more robust in D. carpathicus). There are many European publications on mites collected from the nests of various bird hosts in which the name D. hirundinis is used, but the species is not illustrated or described in these publications, so its true identity is therefore uncertain. Confusion between these two species is probably widespread.

Occurrence and habitat. Dermanyssus carpathicus is the most frequent and abundant representative of the genus Dermanyssus in Slovakia, and is widely distributed throughout the territory. It is a polyxenous ectoparasite, which is distributed from lowlands to subalpine grasslands, with an optimum in the areas up to 800 m a.s.l., and with an altitudinal range from 100 to 1,440 m a.s.l. This species was collected from a variety of host species as listed below, but was also found in soil, litter, and detritus taken from caves. Despite its low host specificity (found in 12 bird orders and 58 host species, see below), it apparently prefers the nests of passeriform birds (69% of all identified birds), especially normal cup nests, either on the ground or elevated, including specific pendant or sphere nests which are completely enclosed (Remiz pendulinus). It can also be found in mound or floating platform nests of some aquatic birds (Charadriiformes, Gruiformes) in very wet situations.

Host distribution. Bird nests: Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Krištofík et al. 2001; Fenďa & Schniererová 2004, 2005), Acrocephalus arundinaceus with Cuculus canorus, Aegithalos caudatus, Alauda arvensis, Alcedo atthis, Anas platyrhynchos (Fenďa & Schniererová 2005, new data), Anthus trivialis, Aquila chrysaetos, Carduelis carduelis, Certhia brachydactyla, Chloris chloris, Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Ciconia ciconia, Circus aeruginosus, Delichon urbicum, Dendrocopos major, Emberiza schoeniclus, Falco cherrug, Falco tinnunculus, Ficedula albicollis (Švaňa et al. 2006), Fringilla coelebs, Fulica atra, Himantopus himantopus, Lanius collurio (Krištofík et al. 2002), Lanius minor (Krištofík et al. 2002), Limosa limosa, Linaria cannabina, Locustella luscinioides, Merops apiaster (Krištofík et al. 1996, Fenďa 2008), Motacilla alba, Motacilla cinerea, Motacilla flava, Muscicapa striata, Nannus troglodytes, Notiocichla palustris (Krištofík et al. 2005), Notiocichla scirpacea (Fenďa & Schniererová 2004, 2005), Numenius arquata, Oriolus oriolus, Parus major (Zeman 1979, new data), Parus sp., Passer montanus (Krumpál et al. 2001, Švaňa et al. 2006, Fenďa et al. 2011, new data), Phoenicurus ochruros, Phoenicurus phoenicurus (Zeman 1979), Phoenicurus sp., Phylloscopus collybita, Pica pica, Podiceps grisegena, Prunella modularis, Remiz pendulinus (Krištofík et al. 1993, Krištofík & Mašán 1996, Mašán 1997), Riparia riparia (Mašán & Krištofík 1993, Krištofík et al. 1994, Fenďa 2008), Saxicola rubetra, Serinus serinus, Strix aluco, Sylvia atricapilla, Taeniopygia castanotis (Cyprich et al. 2000), Turdus merula, Turdus philomelos, Turdus pilaris, Turdus sp., Turdus torquatus (Krumpál et al. 1998), Vanellus vanellus. Mammals: Apodemus flavicollis (Krumpál et al. 1998), Canis familiaris, Glis glis (Mašán & Krištofík 1996), Talpa europaea (Mašán et al. 1994). Other findings: soil and litter (Fenďa & Mašán 2003), detritus of caves.

Based on our revision (PM), all of the above published specimens have been misidentified, and originally reported under the name Dermanyssus hirundinis, except those of Zeman (1979). In general, the new hosts (and findings) of this section are listed in this paper with no author’s reference, but their complete collection data are available in the paragraphs labelled "New data" (see below).

New data. Borská Nížina Lowland: 2 NN, 15 May 1991, Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds, Numenius arquata; 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 7 NN, 15 May 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Aegithalos caudatus; 1 ♀, 12 June 1991, Malé Leváre Village (meadow), Saxicola rubetra; 4 ♀♀, 1 N, 21 June 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (meadow), Alauda arvensis; 1 ♀, 21 June 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (meadow), Motacilla flava; 1 N, 7 June 1992, Stupava Town (floodplain forest), Phylloscopus collybita; 2 ♀♀, 4 NN, 16 June 1992, Malé Leváre Village (floodplain forest), Certhia brachydactyla; 1 N, 28 June 1992, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (reed stand), Emberiza schoeniclus; 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 12 NN, 30 June 1992, Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds, Chloris chloris; 1 ♀, 3 NN, 30 June 1992, Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds, Serinus serinus; 1 ♀, 5 August 1992, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (meadow), Anthus trivialis; 1 N, 16 June 1993, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (canal), Anas platyrhynchos; 4 ♀♀, 19 July 1993, Malé Leváre Village (floodplain forest), Prunella modularis; 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 2 NN, 26 May 2002, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Linaria cannabina; 3,044 ♀♀, 1,129 ♂♂, 488 NN, 28 May 2002, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Phoenicurus ochruros; 19 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 3 June 2008, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Falco tinnunculus. Malá Fatra Mts.: 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 1 N, 21 August 1992, Aquila chrysaetos. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 1 ♀, 2 NN, 25 June 1990, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Nannus troglodytes; 2 ♀♀, 12 July 1990, Bratislava Capital, zoological garden, Parus major; 5 ♀♀, 6 NN, 30 August 1990, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Alcedo atthis; 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Motacilla cinerea; 39 ♀♀, 12 ♂♂, 140 NN, 3 March 1992, Bratislava Capital, zoological garden, Passer montanus; 1 ♀, 29 July 1993, Falco cherrug. Myjavská Pahorkatina Hills: 5 ♀♀, 1 N, 14 May 1992, Sobotište Village (forest), Strix aluco. Podbeskydská Brázda Mts.: 97 ♀♀, 20 ♂♂, 10 NN, 18 July 1989, Mútne Village, Phoenicurus sp. Podunajská Rovina Lowland: 2 ♀♀, 8 NN, 28 June 1989, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Fulica atra; 9 ♀♀, 1 N, 3 August 1989, Bodíky Village, Ciconia ciconia; 1 ♀, 1 September 1989, Dunajská Lužná Village (windbreak), Falco tinnunculus; 1 ♀, 1 September 1989, Dunajská Lužná Village (windbreak), Pica pica; 31 ♀♀, 3 November 1989, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Oriolus oriolus; 4 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 47 NN, 5 June 1990, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Sylvia atricapilla; 144 ♀♀, 25 ♂♂, 129 NN, 5 June 1990, Trstená Na Ostrove Village, Kráľovská Lúka Arm (floodplain forest), Turdus philomelos; 10 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 10 NN, 2 July 1990, Trstená Na Ostrove Village, Kráľovská Lúka Arm (floodplain forest), Turdus merula; 1 ♀, 1 N, 2 July 1990, Trstená Na Ostrove Village, Kráľovská Lúka Arm (floodplain forest), Fringilla coelebs; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 17 August 1990, Gabčíkovo Village (floodplain forest), Carduelis carduelis; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 4 September 1990, Komárno Town, Apáli Nature Reserve, Dendrocopos major; 1 ♀, 5 September 1990, Gabčíkovo Village, Delichon urbicum; 4 ♀♀, 1 N, 23 July 1991, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Chroicocephalus ridibundus; 1 ♀, 7 June 1992, Veľké Blahovo Village, Vanellus vanellus; 1 N, 19 June 1992, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Limosa limosa; 233 ♀♀, 16 ♂♂, 349 NN, 23 June 1992, Vojka Nad Dunajom Village (canal), Himantopus himantopus; 6 NN, 15 July 1992, Šuľany Village (floodplain forest), Muscicapa striata; 2 ♀♀, 4 August 1992, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Acrocephalus arundinaceus + Cuculus canorus; 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 16 July 1993, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Circus aeruginosus; 1 ♀, 25 July 1994, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Oriolus oriolus; 24 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 8 NN, 18 July 2006, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Locustella luscinioides. Trnavská Pahorkatina Hills: 2 ♀♀, 1 N, VI. 1992, Trnava Town, Trnavské Rybníky Fishponds, Podiceps grisegena. Veľká Fatra Mts.: 22 ♀♀, 3 NN, 22 June 1989, Stankovany Village, Turdus sp.; 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂, ibid., Parus sp.; 5 ♀♀, ibid., Canis familiaris; 18 ♀♀, 762 NN, 27 August 1993, Stankovany Village, Podšíp Settlement, Motacilla alba. Veporské Vrchy Mts.: 1 ♀, 6 July 1993, Hriňová Village, Pivnička Settlement, Turdus pilaris.