Northern Fowl Mite
Ornithonyssus sylviarum
This record describes Ornithonyssus sylviarum (species). Recorded family: Macronyssidae. Recorded order: Mesostigmata.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Mesostigmata (Mesostigs)
- Suborder
- Dermanyssina
- Superfamily
- Dermanyssoidea
- Family
- Macronyssidae
- Genus
- Ornithonyssus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widespread in temperate areas of the world.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Feed on domestic fowl and wild birds.
About Mesostigs: the wider group
Order-level background for Mesostigmata, the group containing Ornithonyssus sylviarum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Mesostigmata includes ~11,500 described species of predatory and parasitic mites. Many species are voracious predators of other mites, springtails, and small insects in soil and leaf litter.
Ecological role of the group
Mesostigmatid mites are key regulators of soil arthropod communities. Some species are phoretic - they hitch rides on beetles and other insects to disperse to new habitats. Parasitic species include the varroa mite, the most devastating parasite of honey bees.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Predatory mesostigmatid mites are commercially produced for biological pest control. Phytoseiulus persimilis is one of the most widely sold biocontrol agents, used against spider mites in greenhouses worldwide - the market is worth hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: Biological control industry, bee health research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Northern Fowl Mite (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jim McClarin; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , kschnei