Ornithonyssus sylviarum Canestrini & Fanzago 1877

Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877)

Dermanyssus sylviarum Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877: 124.

Liponyssus americanus Banks, 1905: 136. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958).

Liponyssus canadensis Banks, 1909: 134. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958).

Liponyssus pacificus Ewing, 1923: 19. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958).

Bdellonyssus ondatrae Willmann, 1952: 410. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980).

Ornithonyssus banksi Strandtmann & Wharton, 1958: 85. Synonymy by Whitaker & Wilson (1974).

Ornithonyssus sylviarum.— Evans & Till, 1966: 318; Micherdziński, 1980: 115.

Ornithonyssus sylviarum utrechtensis Micherdziński, 1980: 318. Synonymy by Radovsky & Estébanes-Gonzáles (2001).

Occurrence and habitat. This cold tolerant species is distributed mainly in the north temperate zone, and in Slovakia it is the commonest dermanyssoid associate of birds. It is very frequently and abundantly found in many bird taxa, including species that build various types of nests and occur in diverse habitats. It is very widely distributed in Slovakia, ranging from lowlands to the alpine zone of mountains (2,120 m a.s.l.). Ornithonyssus sylviarum is reported here from 71 identified hosts representing 14 orders of Aves (as listed below). It does not seem to be host-specific for any of the bird species or their higher taxa. It shows only a certain degree of positive habitat preference at the level of an ecological guild associated with riparian biotopes, due to its apparent affinity for the nests of the passeriform bird communities nesting in sites with littoral reed vegetation and locally high air humidity (e.g., Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Emberiza schoeniclus, Notiocichla spp., and Panurus biarmicus). It is collected also in a variety of microhabitats not directly associated with the bodies and nests of birds and mammals, e.g., hygrophilous vegetation, moss, organic detritus of herbs, soil, litter, and substrates taken from a cave environment.

Host distribution. Bird nests: Accipiter gentilis, Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Krištofík et al. 2001, Fenďa & Schniererová 2004), Acrocephalus arundinaceus with Cuculus canorus, Aegithalos caudatus, Alauda arvensis, Alcedo atthis, Anas platyrhynchos (Fenďa & Schniererová 2005), Anthus pratensis, Anthus spinoletta, Anthus trivialis, Aquila chrysaetos, Aythya ferina, Bubo bubo, Buteo buteo, Carduelis carduelis, Certhia sp., Chloris chloris (Ambros et al. 1992), Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Ciconia ciconia, Circus aeruginosus, Circus pygargus, Corvus frugilegus, Cygnus olor, Delichon urbicum, Dendrocopos major, Emberiza schoeniclus, Falco cherrug, Falco tinnunculus, Fringilla coelebs, Fulica atra, Garrulus glandarius (Mrciak & Rosický 1956: as Dermanyssus sylviarum), Glaucidium passerinum, Himantopus himantopus, Hippolais icterina (Ambros et al. 1992), Ictinaetus pomarinus (Krištofík et al. 2009), Ixobrychus minutus (Fenďa & Schniererová 2005), Lanius collurio (Ambros et al. 1992, Krištofík et al. 2002), Lanius minor (Krištofík et al. 2002), Luscinia megarhynchos, Merops apiaster (Krištofík et al. 1996, Fenďa 2008), Milvus migrans, Milvus milvus, Motacilla alba (Ambros et al. 1992), Motacilla cinerea, Motacilla cinereocaphilla, Motacilla feldegg, Motacilla flava, Muscicapa striata, Nannus troglodytes, Notiocichla palustris (Krištofík et al. 2005), Notiocichla scirpacea (Fenďa & Schniererová 2004, 2005), Oriolus oriolus, Panurus biarmicus (Krištofík et al. 2007), Parus major, Parus sp. (Fenďa & Mašán 2003), Passer montanus (Krumpál et al. 2001, Švaňa et al. 2006, Fenďa et al. 2011), Phoenicurus ochruros, Phylloscopus collybita, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Pica pica, Podiceps cristatus, Prunella modularis, Remiz pendulinus (Ambros et al. 1992, Krištofík et al. 1993, Krištofík & Mašán 1996, Mašán 1997), Riparia riparia (Mašán & Krištofík 1993, Fenďa 2008), Serinus serinus, Sitta europaea (Fenďa & Mašán 2003), Sylvia atricapilla, Sylvia nisoria, Sylvia sp., Turdus merula, Turdus philomelos (Micherdziński 1980), Turdus pilaris, Upupa epops (Krištofík et al. 2013). Mammals: Apodemus flavicollis (Mrciak 1963), Glis glis (Mašán & Krištofík 1996), Mus musculus (Mrciak 1963). Other findings: leaves of Phragmites australis (Fenďa & Schniererová 2004, 2005), soil (Fenďa & Mašán 2003, Fenďa & Ciceková 2005), litter, moss, cave habitat.

New data. Borská Nížina Lowland: 1 ♀, 15 May 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Aegithalos caudatus; 1 ♀, 10 June 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Certhia sp.; 223 ♀♀, 1 N, 27 June 1991, Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds, Serinus serinus; 20 ♀♀, 8 July 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Sylvia atricapilla; 230 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 10 NN, 8 July 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Turdus merula; 3 ♀♀, 16 August 1991, Malé Leváre Village (floodplain forest), Milvus migrans; 1 ♀, 1 N, 13 May 1992, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Accipiter gentilis; 1 ♀, 4 June 1992, Malé Leváre Village (canal), Cygnus olor; 23 ♀♀, 5 August 1992, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (meadow), Anthus trivialis; 4,880 ♀♀, 341 ♂♂, 989 NN, 7 June 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Motacilla flava; 1 ♀, 9 June 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Turdus merula; 22 ♀♀, 17 June 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Motacilla feldegg; 95 ♀♀, 3 NN, 26 July 1993, Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds, Ixobrychus minutus; 6 ♀♀, 2 August 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Falco tinnunculus; 2 ♀♀, 12 August 1993, Moravský Svätý Ján Village (forest), Buteo buteo; 1 ♀, 28 June 1994, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Phylloscopus sibilatrix; 1,152 ♀♀, 13 ♂♂, 28 NN, 18 July 1991. Kysucké Beskydy Mts.: 1 ♀, 4 June 1987, Oščadnica Village, Parus major; 1 ♀, 1 July 1997, Nová Bystrica Village, Chmúra Valley (moss). Malá Fatra Mts.: 1 ♀, 21 August 1992, Aquila chrysaetos; 56 ♀♀, 1 N, 15 June 1995, Párnica Village, Osnica Mt., Anthus spinoletta; 4 ♀♀, 23 June 1995, Terchová Village, Stoh Mt., Anthus pratensis. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 96 ♀♀, 30 August 1990, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Alcedo atthis; 102 ♀♀, 24 June 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Prunella modularis; 24 ♀♀, 25 June 1991, Falco cherrug; 21 ♀♀, 25 June 1991, Milvus milvus; 7 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Motacilla cinerea; 4 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Phoenicurus ochruros; 6 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Nannus troglodytes. Oravská Vrchovina Highland: 3 ♀♀, 21 July 1989, Nižná Na Orave Village, Turdus merula. Podunajská Rovina Lowland: 2 ♀♀, 5 April 1989, Pataš Village, Corvus frugilegus; 3 ♀♀, 4 July 1989, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Muscicapa striata; 864 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 15 NN, 23 July 1989, Baka Village (floodplain forest), Hippolais icterina; 11 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 3 August 1989, Bodíky Village, Ciconia ciconia; 127 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 5 NN, 6 August 1990, Čierna Voda Village, Luscinia megarhynchos; 2,818 ♀♀, 120 ♂♂, 1,238 NN, 17 August 1990, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Carduelis carduelis; 37 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 4 September 1990, Komárno Town, Apáli Nature Reserve, Dendrocopos major; 1 ♀, 24 May 1991, Komárno Town, Apáli Nature Reserve, Phylloscopus collybita; 29 ♀♀, 25 June 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Aythya ferina; 286 ♀♀, 70 ♂♂, 122 NN, 25 June 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Fulica atra; 68 ♀♀, 25 June 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Podiceps cristatus; 33 ♀♀, 3 NN, 3 July 1991, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Chloris chloris; 6,413 ♀♀, 882 ♂♂, 2,580 NN, 3 July 1991, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Turdus philomelos; 6 ♀♀, 12 July 1991, Kľúčovec Village (floodplain forest), Fringilla coelebs; 14 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Chroicocephalus ridibundus; 148 ♀♀, 2 NN, 14 August 1991, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Acrocephalus arundinaceus + Cuculus canorus; 1 ♀, 10 September 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Circus aeruginosus; 1 ♀, 23 June 1992, Vojka Nad Dunajom Village (canal), Himantopus himantopus; 2 ♀♀, 15 July 1993, Lehnice Village (windbreak), Turdus merula; 3 ♀♀, 27 July 1993, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Oriolus oriolus; 6 ♀♀, 14 September 1993, Gabčíkovo Village, Delichon urbicum; 1 ♀, 25 June 1994, Bratislava Capital, Ostrov Kopáč Nature Reserve, Sylvia nisoria; 4 ♀♀, 3 July 1994, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Motacilla alba; 2 ♀♀, 25 November 1994, Dobrohošť Village, Dunajské Kriviny (floodplain forest), Glis glis; 2,239 ♀♀, 184 ♂♂, 560 NN, 30 May 1995, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Emberiza schoeniclus; 29 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 2 June 1995, Bratislava Capital, Ostrov Kopáč Nature Reserve, Alauda arvensis; 4 ♀♀, 25 June 1995, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Pica pica; 2 ♀♀, 23 June 1997, Číčov Village, Číčovské Mŕtve Rameno Nature Reserve, Ixobrychus minutus; 4 ♀♀, 29 June 1999, Šamorín Village (windbreak), Falco cherrug. Považské Podolie Basin: 1 ♀, 13 August 1989, Dubnica Nad Váhom Town, Parus major. Považský Inovec Mts.: 44 ♀♀, 7 July 1991, Hubina Village, Bubo bubo. Slovenský Raj Mts.: 1 ♀, 13 August 1999, Stratená Village, Koniarova Jaskyňa Cave (bait); 4 ♀♀, 11 July 2012, Stratená Village, Duča Cave (soil and litter). Starohorské Vrchy Mts.: 2 ♀♀, 20 August 1990, Staré Hory Village, Sylvia sp. Strážovské Vrchy Mts.: 1 ♀, 5 July 1999, Malinová Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus; 4 ♀♀, 19 July 1999, Chvojnica Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus. Turčianska Kotlina Basin: 1 ♀, 11 June 2000, Diviaky Village, Motacilla cinereocaphilla. Veľká Fatra Mts.: 2 ♀♀, 26 June 1993, Stankovany Village, Podšíp Settlement, Sitta europaea. Veporské Vrchy Mts.: 91 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂, 2 NN, 6 July 1993, Hriňová Village, Pivnička Settlement, Turdus pilaris. Vihorlatské Vrchy Mts.: 8 ♀♀, 17 July 1999, Ptičie Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus. Východoslovenská Rovina Lowland: 28 ♀♀, 4 August 1993, Blatné Revištia Village, Circus pygargus. Vysoké Tatry Mts.: 1 ♀, 13 July 2005, Tatranská Javorina Village, Zadná Javorová Dolina Valley (organic plant detritus under stone). Zvolenská Kotlina Basin: 49 ♀♀, 12 July 1993, Kováčová Village (forest), Glaucidium passerinum.