Taxonomic diversity and distribution of mites (Acari: Acariformes and Parasitiformes) in nests of the semi-collared flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata)

The mite fauna inhabiting nests of various birds in Bulgaria and the world as a whole not yet been insufficient studied. Data of mites of many species of birds, one of which is Ficedula semitorquata are still scarce. The aim of the present paper is to describe the taxonomic diversity and distribution of astigmatic, prostigmatic and mesostigmatic mites in nests of semi-collared flycatcher in North-East Bulgaria. Differences in the species richness and abundance of mites at studied nest-box plots were assessed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Pairwise comparisons were performed using Tukey´s tests. Twelve species, belonging to seven families of mites (Dermanyssidae, Macronyssidae, Laelapidae, Myonyssidae, Macrochelidae, Cheyletidae and Acaridae) were recorded. 157 (83.51%) of investigating 188 nests were infested with mites and the average abundance per nest was 21.24. The distribution of the found species in the nests and nest-box plots is uneven. Comparisons of species richness and abundance at studied nest-box plots show statistically significant differences. The analysis of the results shows that none of the identified 12 species not found at all seven plots. Only two species – Dermanyssus gallinae and Androlaelaps casalis were present in six of the sites, and three other – Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, Cheyletus malaccensis and Eucheyletia bakeri were found only at one of the nest-box plots. The mite fauna in the nests of semi-collared flycatcher seem to be influenced from the quantity and quality of the imported from the outside mites, as well as from the microclimate in the different nests and plots. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences-JBES is an open-access scholarly research journal, published by International Network for Natural Sciences-INNSPUB. JBES published original scientific articles in different field of Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity. JBES published 2 Volume and 12 issue per calendar year.J. Bio. Env. Sci. 10(1), 69-79, January 2017