Some quill mites feed on keratin and medulla tissue, but syringophilid mites pierce the quill wall and feed on feather follicle tissue fluid.

                                        FALCONIFORM QUILL MITES

Ascouracaridae: Cystoidosoma
                              Pyonacarus
Syringophilidae: Peristerophila

                                        STRIGIFORM QUILL MITES

Dermoglyphidae: Paralges
Oconnoriidae: Oconnoria
Syringophilidae: Bubophilus

                                        QUILL MITE GALLERIES

FALCONIFORM QUILL MITES

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1. Yellow syringophilid mites in quill, bald eagle under trunk feather
2.  Syrungophilid-infested cooper's hawk under secondary covert quill (left) and normal quill (right)

STRIGIFORM QUILL MITES

            1                        2                        3                        4                        5                        6

1.  Bubophilus ascalaphus female, ex great horned owl
2.  Bubophilus ascalaphus male, ex great horned owl
3.  Bubophilus ascalaphus in superior umbilicus, great horned owl feather
4.  Syringophilid-infested quill (left), normal quill right, great horned owl feather
5.  Yellow adults syringophilid mites, plus immatures and molted skins, in left quill
6.  Syringophilid mites, plus mite feces and molted skins, in left quill
7.  Paralges male, ex barred owl
8.  Hole in great horned owl quill cut by Paralges
9.  Paralges emerging through hole in great horned owl scapular quill
10. Paralges-infested upper medial/marginal/lesser covert great horned owl quill

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