Recent advances in endoparasitic avian nasal mite research (Rhinonyssidae, Turbinoptidae, and Ereynetidae) in Canada

A broad diversity of mites live in close association with birds, with at least 3,000 described species from 40 families living in or on their avian hosts. Most groups of avian mites are parasitic, and one of the oddest parasitic groups are the nasal mites. Dwelling in the nasal passages of birds has evolved independently in multiple families of parasitiform and acariform mites (Rhinonyssidae, Turbinoptidae, and Ereynetidae). Typically nasal mites are not considered to cause significant pathology to their hosts; however, feeding activity may cause trauma to nasal tissues, some species cause parasite mediated mortality, and others may serve as vectors for infectious agents. The first and last survey of nasal mites in Canada was published in 2008, and that survey expanded upon the biodiversity and host specificity of nasal mites. The findings of that survey shed light onto the dearth of knowledge about these peculiar mites, and indicated that there were still many more species of nasal mites to uncover in Canada. Since the 2008 survey I have continued research on nasal mites in Canada, and as predicted many new mite species records and novel host associations have been observed for birds in Canada and North America, and several new species of nasal mites have been discovered. As seen in many groups, the host specificity of nasal mites is variable with some species reported from a few host species and others from multiple genera. Nasal mites are reported from most bird families, however there are many bird species that are seemingly devoid of nasal mites despite examining numerous host individuals. This research furthers our understanding of avian nasal mites in Canada and highlights the necessity for continued investigations on these mites.