Prelude to a study of the feather mites of Australia (Acariformes: Astigmata) Author HALLIDAY, R. B. text Zootaxa 2023 2023-05-09 5280 1 1 73 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5280.1.1 journal article 54455 10.11646/zootaxa.5280.1.1 a3384e49-2a34-4e14-8651-90cd896e0df4 1175-5326 7912198 E89D81FE-D079-41B7-9FF4-4933D620B89D 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 .