Observations on mites inhabiting nests of Bubo bubo (L.) (Strigiformes, Strigidae) in Belgium.

The acarofauna of six nests of Bubo bubo (L.) collected in Belgium has been studied. The number and quality of the mites collected varied markedly from nest to nest. Pyroglyphid mites (i.e. Dermatophagoides farinae and Euroglyphus maynei), which are known as important producers of bronchial asthma in man, were found in two distinct nests. Among the species collected in one nest, two are new (Amblyseius namurensis n. sp. and Histiostoma trogicola n. sp.) and six had not been recorded previously from Belgium. The hypopial stage of Myianoetus travei FAIN, 1976, (not the adults) is transferred into the genus Comyianoetus FAIN and PHILIPS, 1979, with the name Comyianoetus puteanus FAIN n. sp. A possible scenario depicting, in three phases, the mite-bird relationships evolving with time is proposed.