A Review of the Feather Mite Genus Lopharalichus Gaud & Atyeo, 1996 (Acariformes: Pterolichidae), with Descriptions of Three New Species from Brazilian Parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) †

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Understanding the current biodiversity of our planet is an ongoing challenge, as natural habitats are being destroyed at a faster rate than species are described. This is especially true for South America, which harbors over one-third of the parrot species in the world. A diverse yet poorly studied group of mites associated with birds are feather mites, which currently include about 2500 known species, and estimates range from 10,000 to 20,000 species. Herein, three new species of feather mites of the genus Lopharalichus are described from parrots in Brazil. ABSTRACT: Feather mites of the genus Lopharalichus Gaud & Atyeo, 1996 (Pterolichidae: Pterolichinae), formerly containing three described species, are associated with New World parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) of the subfamily Arinae. Three new species of this genus are described: Lopharalichus tuim sp. nov. from Forpus xanthopterygius (Spix, 1824), L. spinosus sp. nov. from Ara ararauna (Linnaeus, 1758), and L. chiriri sp. nov. from Brotogeris chiriri (Vieillot, 1818). Type specimens of the previously described Lopharalichus species were examined, and a key to the known species is provided.