Feather mites may help clean birds' plumage, study shows
Thursday, March 28, 2019 - 12:10
in Biology & Nature
Feather mites help to remove bacteria and fungi from the feathers of birds, according to a new study by University of Alberta biologists. In fact, the relationship between these mites and their hosts could be considered mutualism, with bird feathers collecting food for mites to eat and mites providing the birds with healthier plumage.