''Knemidokoptes'' is a genus of parasitic

mites Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evid ...

in the family

Epidermoptidae Epidermoptidae is a family of acariform mites. They live as parasites on the skin of birds and mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands whi ...

that infect the skin or feather follicles of birds, especially

gallinaceous birds Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...

(chickens, pheasants, and relatives) as well as parakeets and canaries. Infection commonly causes scaly lesions to form at the face or feet, which is known as

knemidocoptiasis Scaly foot, or knemidocoptiasis is a bird ailment that is common among caged birds and also affects many other bird species. It is caused by mites in the genus ''Knemidokoptes'' which burrow into the bird's flesh. The tunnels made by the mites ...

. It was formerly placed in the family Knemidokoptidae, which is now treated as a subfamily with 15 species grouped in six genera.

Species

Knemidokoptes mutans ''Knemidokoptes mutans'', also known as the scaly leg mite, is a species of mite Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically g ...

- also known as the scaly leg mite *

Knemidokoptes pilae __NOTOC__ ''Knemidokoptes pilae'' is a mite which Parasite, parasitises the beaks of psittacines, particularly budgerigars, causing a mange known as 'scaly face'.Dwight D. Bowman and Jay R. Georgi, ''Georgi's Parasitology for Veterinarians'', 9th ...

- scaly face mite

References

Sarcoptiformes Parasites of birds {{Sarcoptiformes-stub