Are hippoboscid files a major mode of transmission of feather mites?

Feather mites (Astigmata) are distributed around the world, living on the f eathers of birds, but their mechanisms for transmission among hosts are not fully understood. There is anecdotal evidence of feather mites attached to louseflies. (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), suggesting that feather mites may us e these flies as a mode of phoretic transmission among birds. Two bird-lous efly associations (alpine swift Apus melba-Crataerina melbae and feral pige on Columba livia-Pseudolynchia canariensis) were inspected to test the hypo thesis that feather mites use hippoboscid flies as major mode of transmissi on. Both bird species showed a high prevalence and abundance of feather mit es and louseflies. However, no feather mites were found attached to the 405 louseflies inspected, although skin mites (Epidermoptidae and Cheyletielli dae) were found on louseflies collected from feral pigeons. This study sugg ests that feather mites do not use hippoboscid flies as a major mode of tra nsmission among birds.