 Morphological studies have provided strong evidence for this with feather mite mouthparts being identified as unstructured for biting on solid material.Instead it is suggested that they feed on oils and fats secreted from the uropygial gland as well as pollen, fungus and dead epidermis tissue that is trapped within it.Feather mites are streamlined; strongly dorsoventrally flattened with short legs and well-developed ambulacra that act as a hold-fast organ.