Mesalgoides Gaud & Atyeo, 1967

HALLIDAY, R. B., 2023, Prelude to a study of the feather mites of Australia (Acariformes: Astigmata), Zootaxa 5280 (1), pp. 1-73 : 26-27

Genus Mesalgoides Gaud & Atyeo, 1967

Mesalgoides Gaud & Atyeo, 1967 b: 451 .

Type species: Dermaleichus oscinum sensu Robin & Mégnin, 1877b: 507 , by original designation, (= Dimorphus megnini Oudemans, 1937 , not Dermaleichus oscinum Koch, 1842 ).

Unidentified specimens in this genus: Mesalgoides sp.

Host and locality in Australia: Chibia bracteata , Queensland ( Bonnet 1924b).

Current name of host: Spangled drongo, Dicrurus bracteatus Gould, 1843 ( Passeriformes : Dicruridae ).

Notes: Dermaleichus oscinum Koch, 1842 (now Analges oscinum , Analgidae ), was described from the white wagtail Motacilla alba Linnaeus (Motacillidae) from Germany. Robin & Mégnin (1877b) redescribed a species of Psoroptoididae under this name from the greenfinch Chloris chloris (Linnaeus) (Fringillidae) , apparently in France. Gaud & Atyeo (1967 b) designated the latter species as the type species of the genus Mesalgoides . Oudemans (1937: 2187) recognised Robin & Mégnin’s misidentification and proposed a new name, Dimorphus megnini Oudemans, 1937 for Analges oscinum, sensu Robin & Mégnin. That species is now Mesalgoides megnini ( Oudemans, 1937) . This correction was apparently overlooked until it was pointed out by Mironov (1997, 2004) and Mironov et al. (2018). Bonnet (1924b: 197) recorded a number of psoroptoidid mites under the name “ Mesalges oscinum (Koch) ” from a wide range of hosts, including Chibia bracteata from Queensland. This record of “ Mesalges oscinum ” on the spangled drongo is clearly a misidentification, and refers to some unidentified species of Mesalgoides .