Sergey V. Mironov   

Department of Parasitology, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Dr. Sergey Mironov, from the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is examining feather mites in the UMMZ Insect Collection. His research investigates the systematics, phylogenetics, host-parasite associations and co-evolutionary relationships of parasitic astigmatan mites (Acari: Astigmata), mainly feather mites (Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea), permanent parasites and commensals of birds. Over the course of his career, since 1979, Dr. Mironov has published over 200 scientific papers on feather mites and other acariform mites. He is currently collaborating with Dr. Barry O’Connor on a taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the feather mite family Ptyssalgidae. This interesting group of mites parasitizes the inside of humming bird feather quills and is virtually unexplored taxonomically.