Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Parasitism of ectoparasitic flies on bats in the northern Brazilian cerrado

  • Published:
Acta Parasitologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work we record the highest number of bat flies species among those already performed in the Brazilian cerrado and discuss the associations and patterns of parasitism of these species and their hosts. A total of 1,390 ectoparasitic flies were collected, belonging to 24 species of Streblidae and one of Nycteribiidae, parasitizing 227 bats of 15 species. Among the species found, the presence of Trichobius sp. on Lonchophylla mordax and the first occurrence of Hershkovitzia sp. on Thyroptera devivoi are highlighted. Lophostoma species presented the highest proportion of individuals with infracommunities and the highest values of parasitological indexes. The high number of bat fly species and hosts, as well as the high values for rates of parasitism and infracommunities, suggests that this area of cerrado has good shelter conditions for these species. The abundance of species and high rates of parasitism detracts from the hypothesis that a higher mean intensity of ectoparasites results from lower competition among flies for hosts in areas with lower ectoparasite species richness. Biogeographical and historical factors of host populations, besides the number of host species and individuals sampled, may contribute to species number and intensity of parasitism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ab’Saber A.N. 1977. Os domínios morfoclimáticos na América do Sul. Geomorfologia, 52, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aguiar L.M.Z., Antonini Y. 2011. Descriptive ecology of bat flies (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea) associated with vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in the cerrado of Central Brazil. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 106, 170–176. DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02762011000200009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Autino A.G., Claps G.L., Sánchez M.S., Barquez R.M. 2009. New records of bat ectoparasites (Diptera, Hemiptera and Siphonaptera) from northern Argentina. Neotropical Entomology, 38, 165–177. DOI: 10.1590/S1519-566X2009000200002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernard E., Fenton M.B. 2003. Bat mobility and roosts in a fragmented landscape in Central Amazonia, Brazil. Biotropica, 35, 262–277. DOI: 10.1646/02156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertola P.B., Aires C.C., Favorito S.E., Graciolli G., Amaku M., Pintoda-Rocha R. 2005. Bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae, Nycteribiidae) parasitic on bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) at Parque Estadual da Cantareira, São Paulo, Brasil: parasitism rates and host-parasite associations. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 100, 25–32. DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02762005000100005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bush A.O., Lafferty J.M., Lotz J.M., Shostak A.W. 1997. Parasitology meets ecology in its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. Journal of Parasitology, 83, 575–583. DOI: 10.2307/3284227.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camilotti V.L., Graciolli G., Weber M.M., Arruda J.L.S., Cáceres N.C. 2010. Bat flies from the deciduous Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil: host-parasite relationships and parasitism rates. Acta Parasitologica, 55, 194–200. DOI: 10.2478/s11686-010-0026-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coimbra C.E.A., Guimarães L.R., Mello D.A. 1984. Ocorrência de Streblidae (Diptera: Pupipara) em morcegos capturados em regiões de cerrado do Brasil central. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 28, 547–550.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dias P.A., Santos C.L.C., Rodrigues F.S., Rosa L.C., Lobato K.S., Rebêlo J.M.M. 2009. Espécies de moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Hippoboscoidea) de morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) no estado do Maranhão. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 53, 128–133. DOI: 10.1590/S1519-566X2009000500006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dick C.W. 2007. High host specificity of obligate ectoparasites. Ecological Entomology, 32, 446–450. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2311.2006.00836.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dick C.W., Gettinger D. 2005. A faunal survey of streblid flies (Diptera: Streblidae) associated with bats in Paraguay. Journal of Parasitology, 91, 1015–1024. DOI: 10.1645/GE-536R.1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dittmar K., Morse S., Gruwell M., Mayberry J., DiBlasi E. 2011. Spatial and temporal complexities of reproductive behavior and sex ratios: a case from parasitic insects. PLoS ONE, 6, 1–9. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson A., Graciolli G., Fischer E. 2011. Bat flies on phyllostomid hosts in the Cerrado region: component community, prevalence and intensity of parasitism. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 106, 274–278. DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02762011000300004.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fenton M.B., Bernard E., Bouchard S., Hollis L., Johnston D.S., Lausen C.L., Ratcliffe J.M., Riskin D.K., Taylor J.S., Zigouris J. 2001. The bat fauna of Lamanai, Belize: roosts and trophic roles. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 17, 511–524. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467401001389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner A.L. (Ed.). 2007. Mammals of South America: Volume 1, marsupials, xenarthrans, shrews and bats. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 690 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graciolli G., Aguiar L.S. 2002. Ocorrência de moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Streblidae e Nycteribiidae) de morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) no Cerrado de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 19, 177–181. DOI: 10.1590/S0101-81752002000500012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graciolli G., Bernard E. 2002. Novos registros de moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Streblidae e Nycteribiidae) em morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) do Amazonas e Pará, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 19, 77–86. DOI: 10.1590/S0101-81752002000500003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graciolli G., Bianconi G.V. 2007. Moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Streblidae e Nycteribiidae) em morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) em área de Floresta com Araucária no Estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 24, 246–249. DOI: 10.1590/S0101-81752007000100033.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graciolli G., Coelho D.C. 2001. Streblidae (Diptera, Hippoboscoidea) sobre morcegos filostomídeos (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) em cavernas do Distrito Federal. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 18, 965–970. DOI: 10.1590/S0101-81752001000300028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graciolli G., Cáceres N.C., Bornschein M.R. 2006a. Novos registros de moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Streblidae e Nycteribiidae) de morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) em áreas de transição cerrado-floresta estacional no Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Biota Neotropica, 6, 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graciolli G., Passos F.C., Pedro W.A., Lim B.K. 2006b. Moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Streblidae) de morcegos filostomídeos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) na Estação Ecológica de Caetetus, São Paulo, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 23, 298–299. DOI: 10.1590/S0101-81752006000100025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graciolli G., Rui A.M. 2001. Streblidae (Diptera, Hippoboscoidea) em morcegos (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) no nordeste do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Iheringia, 90, 85–92. DOI: 10.1590/S0073-47212001000100009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graciolli G., Zórtea M., Carvalho L.F.A.C. 2010. Bat flies (Diptera, Streblidae and Nycteribiidae) in a Cerrado area of Goiás State, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 54, 511–514. DOI: 10.1590/S0085-56262010000300025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero R. 1994a. Catalogo de los Streblidae (Diptera: Pupipara) parasitos de murciélagos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) del Nuevo Mundo. IV. Trichobiinae com alas desarrolladas. Boletin Entomologia Venezolana, 9, 161–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero R. 1994b. Catalogo de los Streblidae (Diptera: Pupipara) parasitos de murcielagos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) del Nuevo Mundo. II. Los grupos: pallidus, caecus, major, uniformis y longipes del gênero Trichobius Gervais, 1844. Acta Biologica Venezuelica, 15, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero R. 1995. Catalogo de los Streblidae (Diptera: Pupipara) parasitos de murcielagos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) del Nuevo Mundo. V. Trichobiinae com alas reducidas o ausentes y miscelaneos. Boletin Entomologia Venezolana, 10, 135–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero R. 1996. Catalogo de los Streblidae (Diptera: Pupipara) parasitos de murciélagos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) del Nuevo Mundo. VI. Streblinae. Acta Biologica Venezuelica, 16, 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero R. 1997. Catalogo de los Streblidae (Diptera: Pupipara) parasitos de murcielagos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) del novo mundo. VII. Lista de especies, hospedadores y países. Acta Biologica Venezuelica, 17, 9–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • IMESC — Instuto Maranhense de Estudos Socioeconômicos e cartográficos (2011) Mapas cartográficos do Maranhão. Available in: http://www.imesc.ma.gov.br (accessed March, 2012)

  • Kalko E.K.V., Friemel D., Handley Jr., C.O., Schnitzler H. 1999. Roosting and foraging behavior of two neotropical gleaning bats, Tonatia silvicola and Trachops cirrhosus (Phyllostomidae). Biotropica, 31, 344–353. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.1999.tb00146.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komeno C.A., Linhares A.X. 1999. Bat flies parasitic on some Phyllostomidae bats in southeastern Brazil: Parasitism rates and host-parasite relationships. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 94, 151–156.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall A.G. 1982. Ecology of insects ectoparasitic on bats. In: (Ed. T.H. Kunz) Ecology of Bats. Plenum Press, New York, USA, 69–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira-Filho A.T., Ratter J.A. 2002. Vegetation physiognomies and woody flora of the cerrado biome. In: (Eds. P.S. Oliveira and R.J. Marquis) The cerrados of Brazil. Ecology and natural history of a Neotropical savanna. Columbia University Press, New York, 91–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson B.D., Dick K.W., Dittmar K. 2007. Roosting habits of bats affect their parasitism by bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae). Journal of Tropical Ecology, 23, 177–189. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467406003816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson B.D., Dick K.W., Dittmar K. 2009. Nested distributions of bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) on Neotropical bats: artifact and specificity in host-parasite studies. Ecography, 32, 1–7. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2008.05727.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peel M.C., Finlayson B.L., McMahon T.A. 2007. Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Hydrology and Earth System Science, 11, 1633–1644. DOI: 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Presley S.J. 2011. Interspecific aggregation of ectoparasites on bats: importance of hosts as habitats supersedes interspecific interactions. Oikos, 120, 832–841. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.19199.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prevedello J.A., Graciolli G., Carvalho C.J.B. 2005. A fauna de dípteros (Streblidae e Nycteribiidae) ectoparasitas de morcegos (Chiroptera) do estado do Paraná, Brasil: Composição, distribuição e áreas prioritárias para novos estudos. Biociências, 13, 193–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reckardt K., Kerth G. 2006. The reproductive success of the parasitic bat fly Basilia nana (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) is affected by the low roost fidelity of its host, the Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii). Parasitology Research, 98, 237–243. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-005-0051-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Redford K.H. 1984. The termitaria of Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, Termitidae) and their role in determining a potential keystone species. Biotropica, 16, 112–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rios G.F.P., Sá-Neto R.J., Graciolli G. 2008. Fauna de dípteros parasitos de morcegos em uma área de caatinga do nordeste do Brasil. Chiroptera Neotropical, 14, 339–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rózsa L., Reiczigel J., Majoros G. 2000. Quantifying parasites in samples of hosts. Journal of Parasitology, 86, 228–232. DOI: 10.2307/3284760.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rui A.M., Graciolli G. 2005. Moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Streblidae) de morcegos (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) no sul do Brasil: associações hospedeiros-parasitos e taxas de infestação. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 22, 438–445. DOI: 10.1590/S0101-81752005000200021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos C.L.C., Dias P.A., Rodrigues F.S., Lobato K.S., Rosa L.C., Oliveira T.G., Rebêlo J.M.M. 2009. Moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera: Streblidae) de morcegos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) do município de São Luís, MA: taxas de infestação e associações parasito-hospedeiro. Neotropical Entomology, 38, 595–601. DOI: 10.1590/S1519-566X2009000500006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons N.B. 2005. Order Chiroptera. In: (Eds. D.E. Wilson, D.M. Reeder) Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 312–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Straube F.C., Bianconi G.V. 2002. Sobre a grandeza e a unidade utilizada para estimar o esforço de captura com utilização de redes-de-neblina. Chiroptera Neotropical, 8, 150–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira A.L.M., Ferreira R.L. 2010. Fauna de dípteros parasites (Diptera: Streblidae) e taxas de infestação em morcegos presentes em cavidades artificiais em Minas Gerais. Chiroptera Neotropical, 16, 748–754.

    Google Scholar 

  • ter Hofstede H.M., Fenton M.B. 2005. Relationships between roost preferences, ectoparasite density and grooming behaviour of neotropical bats. Journal of Zoology, 266, 333–340. DOI: 10.1017/S095283690500693X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel R.L. 1976. The streblid batflies of Venezuela (Diptera: Streblidae). Brigham Young University, Science Bulletin, Biological Series, 20, 1–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel R.L., Tipton V.J., Kiewlicz A. 1966. The streblid bat flies of Panama (Diptera: Calyptera: Streblidae). In: (Eds. R.L. Wenzel and V.J. Tipton) Ectoparasites of Panama. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 405–675.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, CEP 79070-900, Brasil

    Ciro Líbio Caldas dos Santos

  2. Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, CEP 65000-000, Brasil

    Agostinho Cardoso Nascimento Pereira, Vagner de Jesus Carneiro Bastos & José Manuel Macário Rebêlo

  3. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, CEP 79070-900, Brasil

    Gustavo Graciolli

Authors
  1. Ciro Líbio Caldas dos Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Agostinho Cardoso Nascimento Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vagner de Jesus Carneiro Bastos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gustavo Graciolli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. José Manuel Macário Rebêlo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ciro Líbio Caldas dos Santos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Santos, C.L.C.d., Pereira, A.C.N., Bastos, V.d.J.C. et al. Parasitism of ectoparasitic flies on bats in the northern Brazilian cerrado. Acta Parasit. 58, 207–214 (2013). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-013-0135-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-013-0135-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation