New Records of Feather Mites (Acariformes: Analgoidea) on Passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) from Greenland

Feather mites play an important role in bird communities, covering a wide spectrum of associations with their hosts, ranging from parasitic to mutualistic relations. As a result of long co-evolution with their warm-blooded hosts, this diverse group of arthropods can be found in a wide range of environments where their hosts occur, including the high Arctic. The feather mite fauna of Greenland is poorly known. Herein, we present new data on feather mites found on three species of passerine birds, which were captured on Disko Island (Qeqertarsuaq), West Greenland. The feather mite species Analges longispinosus was found on Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis); Proctophyllodes plectrophenax on Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus); and Proctophyllodes hipposideros on Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe). The two Proctophyllodes species represent new records for Greenland. Further studies are needed to reveal the diversity of feather mite species in this remote Arctic region.