Trichobius longipes (Diptera, Streblidae) as a parasite of Phyllostomus hastatus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae).

Carlos Eduardo Lustosa Esbérard,Gustavo Graciolli,Luciana De Moraes Costa,Gustavo Klotz Tato,William Douglas Carvalho,Luiz Antonio Costa Gomes,André Pol,Júlia Lins Luz,Theany Cecilia Biavatti,Maira De Sant'Ana Godoy,Edicarlos Pralon Silva

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612014066

Abstract

Among the factors that influence the diversity of ectoparasites on bat hosts are the kind of roost and the host's social behavior. Other factors such as sex, reproductive condition and host size may influence the distribution and abundance of ectoparasites. The aim of the present study was to analyze the variation in Streblidae ectoparasites on the bat Phyllostomus hastatus, according to sex and roost type. We caught bats in four houses on Marambaia Island, municipality of Mangaratiba, and in one house at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, municipality of Seropédica. We caught 65 females and 50 males of P. hastatus and 664 streblids of four species: Aspidoptera phyllostomatis, Strebla consocia, Trichobius "dugesii" complex and Trichobius longipes. The species T. longipes accounted for more than 99% of all the ectoparasites caught. Female bats were more parasitized than males, in terms of both prevalence and average intensity. The total number of parasites did not vary between resident and non-resident bats. The relationship between the number of individuals of T. longipes and sex and roost type was significant for resident bats. The total number of parasites on males did not differ between bachelor roosts and mixed-sex roosts. The differences found between roosts reflected the differences between the sexes.

Highlights

Among the factors that influence the diversity of ectoparasites on a host are roost type, roost fidelity and the host’s social behavior
Two roosts were composed of bachelor males, one roost had a predominance of males, and two roosts were mixed-sex
Females of P. hastatus are more parasitized than males

Summary

Introduction

Among the factors that influence the diversity of ectoparasites on a host are roost type, roost fidelity and the host’s social behavior. Factors such as sex, reproductive condition and host size may influence the distribution and abundance of ectoparasites (MARSHALL, 1981). Flies of the family Streblidae parasitize bats, mainly species of the family Phyllostomidae. These flies are viviparous; the eggs are retained in the abdomen of the female. They are deposited on the wall of the host’s roost, forming pupae, from which the adults emerge after 22 to 24 days. Larviposition occurs on the wall of the roost while the bat is foraging (GRACIOLLI et al, 2008)

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