Association of bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) and bats: Richness and host specificity in Western Mexico

As part of a widespread ecological study on the ectoparasites of bats in Western Mexico, we report new information on the specificity, and distribution of bat flies in a geographical transition zone between the neartic and neotropical zones. Fifteen (15) species of bats representing three families (Mormoopidae, Phyllostomidae, and Vespertilionidae) were collected in 10 locations throughout western Mexico. A total of 276 bat flies, representing 6 genera and 25 species, were identified four species of the bat flies are new records for the region indicating an expansion of the distribution for Trichobius corynorhini (Cockerll, 1910), T. hoffmannae (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996), T. intermedius (Peterson & Hürka, 1974) and Nycterophilia natali (Wenzel, 1966). These records update the species richness of streblids to 40 species in the state of Jalisco, representing 65.6% of the total number of 61 species of streblids recorded in Mexico. The interaction network showed a high degree of specialization of the bat flies towards their hosts (H2' = 0.92). Similarly, the specificity indices showed that there is a high ecological specificity (SI) with an average of 92%. of all the bat flies was associated with their primary hosts, while the average value of specificity of the phylogenetic trees (S_TD) of the six streblid species that presented more than one host was 1.7%, indicating a high specificity. The results of this study provide relevant information on bat-parasite associations and highlight the need for further research to obtain information on the geographic distribution of streblids and their hosts.

A New Species of the Genus Periglischrus (Acari: Spinturnicidae) on Leptonycteris nivalis (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) From Mexico, Including a Key to Species of the vargasi Species Group

Periglischrus calcariflexus new species, was found on the Greater Long-tongued bat Leptonycteris nivalis (Saussure) in Mexico. The female, male, deutonymphs, and protonymph are described and illustrated. Additionally, we evaluate the morphological variability of this species based on its geographical distribution. Considering this new species, the number of species in the vargasi species group within the genus Periglischrus increases to five; therefore, herein we include a key for the known species in the vargasi species group for the Neotropics.

Stable isotopes reveal contrasting trophic dynamics between host-parasite relationships: A case study of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and parasitic lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Argulus foliaceus)

Across existing fish host-parasite literature, endoparasites were depleted in δ¹⁵ N compared to their hosts, while ectoparasitic values demonstrated enrichment, depletion and equivalence relative to their hosts. δ¹³ C enrichment varied extensively for both endo- and ectoparasites across taxa and host tissues. In our case study, sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) were enriched in δ¹⁵ N relative to their farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) hosts, although the value contradicted the average that is currently assumed across the animal kingdom. Common fish lice (Argulus foliaceus) did not show a consistent trend in δ¹⁵ N compared to their wild S. salar hosts. Both parasitic species had a range of δ¹³ C enrichment patterns relative to their hosts. Farmed and wild S. salar had contrasting δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N, and signals varied across muscle, fin and skin within both groups. L. salmonis and A. foliaceus subsequently had unique δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N, and L. salmonis from opposite US coasts differed in δ¹⁵ N. Given the range of enrichment patterns that were exhibited across the literature and in our study system, trophic dynamics from host to parasite do not conform to traditional prey to predator standards. Furthermore, there does not appear to be a universal enrichment pathway for δ¹³ C nor δ¹⁵ N in parasitic relationships, which emphasizes the need to investigate host-parasite linkages across species.

Bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) of phyllostomid bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from the mountainous central region of Veracruz, Mexico

The studies of bat flies of the family Streblidae Kolenati, 1863 in Mexico have intensified in the last five years, usually providing new geographical records of species and new bats host records. Currently, the Mexican fauna of streblids is composed of 59 species, representing 26% of total global species richness. Veracruz is one of the states with a high number of species in Mexico with 69% of species recorded in the country. We sampled a total of 527 bats of four subfamilies and 12 species, collecting a total of 870 specimens of 19 species of streblids. Megistopoda proxima (Séguy, 1926) and Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda Ribeiro, 1907) were the most abundant species in the collection and are the two species found in a higher number of bat species. We provide comments on the taxonomy and host species for bat flies, increase the species records for this state, and add new host records for some streblids, contributing to the knowledge of streblid fauna of the mountain central region of the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

New Geographical Records of Bat Flies (Diptera: Streblidae) Associated With Phyllostomid Bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in the West Highlands of Mexico

Streblidae are ectoparasites exclusive to bats and feed only on their blood. Studies on ectoparasite fauna have increased our ecological knowledge of the parasitic relationship between streblids and their bat hosts. We evaluate assemblages of phyllostomid bats and their ectoparasitic flies in three scenarios with different types of anthropogenic use: pine-oak forest, avocado orchards, and an urban park during an annual cycle in the highlands of Michoacan, Mexico. We recorded a total of 325 bats belonging to nine species in three subfamilies: Glossophaginae, Desmodontinae, and Stenodermatinae, and obtained 225 bat flies belonging to seven species. The nectivorous bat Anoura geoffroyi Gray, 1838, had the highest prevalence of infestation and the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus (É. Geoffroy, 1810) was the host with the highest mean parasite abundance and mean intensity. Aspidoptera delatorrei Wenzel, 1966, Megistopoda proxima (Séguy, 1926), Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda Ribeiro, 1907), Trichobius brennani Wenzel, 1966, and T. parasiticus Gervais, 1844, are new records for the state of Michoacan reported in this study.