New Host and Distribution Records for the Mite Genera Dermanyssus, Ornithonyssus and Pellonyssus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapoidea) in Florida

Host and distribution records of dermanyssid and macronyssid mites are reported for the first time. New records for Florida are presented for Dermanyssus gallinae (DeGeer), Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese), O. bacoti (Hirst), O. sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), and Pellonyssus passeri (Clark and Yunker). Dermanyssus is probably an uncommon genus in Florida. Ornithonyssus bursa and O. bacoti were the 2 macronyssids reported to attack humans in Florida. The most commonly encountered ectoparasitic mite of the domestic chicken, Gallus gallus, was O. sylviarum. Pellonyssus passeri was collected in large numbers particularly in the nests of the house sparrow Passer domesticus and mockingbird, Mimus polyglottis.