Introduction
Bats are important components of ecosystems and provide critical environmental services for human well-being as pollinators, seed dispersers, and natural regulators of insect pests (Kunz et al., 2011). However, they are recognized as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, with more than 80 viruses detected in different groups of bats (Klimpel & Mehlhorn, 2016). They also harbor a variety of endoparasites like bacteria (Bai et al., 2012) such as Rickettsia (Dietrich et al., 2016), protozoa and helminths (Lima et al., 2018), as well as arthropod ectoparasites (Hutson, 1972) like mites and ticks (Baker & Craven, 2003), bat bugs (Usinger, 1966), fleas (Hutson, 1972), and bat flies from the families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae, which usually are highly host-specific (Dick, 2007).
Streblidae is a family of dipterans that are obligate parasites of bats (Dick & Patterson, 2006; Patterson et al., 2007; Wenzel et al., 1966). This family comprises 229 species classified in 33 genera and 5 subfamilies (Dick & Graciolli, 2018). Three of these subfamilies are distributed in the New World: Nycterophiliinae (2 genera and 6 species), Trichobiinae (20 genera and 15 species), and Streblinae (4 genera and 35 species; Dick & Miller, 2010).
Currently, a total of 55 species of streblid bat flies have been recorded in Mexico (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018; Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2016; Whitaker & Morales-Malacara, 2005), this based on regional faunistic studies carried out in different states of the country. The state of Oaxaca is considered megadiverse (Luis-Martínez et al., 2004), ranking second as the state with the highest number of bat species (Briones-Salas et al., 2015) and third in its richness of parasite dipterans (Llorente-Bousquets & Ocegueda, 2008). However, there are only 3 previous reports for the dipteran family Streblidae in Oaxaca, which all together recorded 9 species. Hoffmann (1944, 1953) reported Nycterophilia coxata Ferris, 1916, Trichobius adamsi Augustson, 1943, Trichobius parasiticus Gervais, 1844, Strebla mirabilis (Waterhouse, 1879), and Paraeuctenodes longipes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1937. Guerrero & Morales-Malacara (1996) reported 4 additional species: Aspidoptera delatorreiWenzel, 1966, Nycterophilia mormoopsisWenzel, 1976, Trichobius joblingiWenzel, 1966, and Speiseria ambigua Kessel, 1925. This shows the lack of studies and knowledge on the streblids for this Mexican state.
The goal of this report is therefore to provide data on the streblid flies species found in bats that occur in the coastal area of Oaxaca. Good knowledge of the streblid fauna and their hosts is needed to conduct studies on parasite-host relationships that would help understand their ecological importance.
Materials and methods
This work was conducted in the cave "Cerro Huatulco" found in the municipality of Santa María Huatulco, in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico (15°50'59.70" N, 96°21'3.90" S). The cave is located 4.1 km NE of the municipal capital of Santa María Huatulco. It is found at 450 m asl, surrounded by patches of tropical forest with medium-sized semideciduous trees, shade coffee plantations, and grasslands. Climate is predominantly warm-subhumid, with abundant rainfall in the summer. Annual temperature ranges between 19.5 °C and 33 °C, while mean humidity ranges from 52% in the dry season and 100% in the rainy season. Annual precipitation fluctuates between 2,300 and 3,500 mm (García, 1988). There are no previous studies in this site. The cave gives shelter to at least 15 bat species, with 3 of them having populations that can reach thousands of individuals (personal observation).
Sampling of bats was carried out from July 2016 to June 2018, during 2 nights each month. Bats were captured using 2 mist nets (6 x 2.5 m) placed 20 m away from the cave entrance. One net was hung parallel and the other perpendicular to the cave entrance. Mist nets were opened at 19:00 hrs after the most abundant bat colony emerged (of about 10,000 individuals) and were closed the next morning at 06:00 a.m. During this time, bats were caught quickly, handling each bat separately in its own bag to avoid injuries, streblid escape, and parasite contamination between individuals. Bags were washed prior to being used. Bats were identified with the field guide by Medellín et al. (2008) and were released at their capture site.
Each captured bat was examined over a white background with an eyebrow brush soaked with ethanol gel. Ectoparasites were collected with soft forceps and placed in Eppendorf tubes with 75% ethanol. Each sample was labeled with the bat host species and the individual's identification number (e.g., Pteronotus parnellii # 1:Pp01). At the laboratory, streblids were examined under a stereoscopic microscope Nikon SMZ 800N and were identified using the taxonomic keys by Wenzel et al. (1966) and Wenzel (1976), complemented with other published references, as was the case for Trichobius hoffmanaeGuerrero and Morales-Malacara (1996). The examined material was deposited in the Insect Collection of the Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (IEXA), Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
Prevalence was estimated as the number of hosts infested with 1 or more individuals of bat flies divided by the total number of host species examined, expressed as a percentage (Bush et al., 1997).
Results
A total of 732 individuals of 15 species of bats were captured, corresponding to the families Phyllostomidae (10 spp.), Mormoopidae (4 spp.), and Natalidae (1 sp.). A total of 52.6% of the bats carried 1 or more streblid species, totalling 1,317 streblid specimens belonging to 24 species and 8 genera (Table 1).
Bats | Streblidae | |||||
Host | N | I | PP (%) | Species | PP (%) | N |
Artibeus jamaicensis | 77 | 48 | 62.3 | Aspidoptera phyllostomatis | 24.7 | 26 |
Megistopoda aranea | 25.9 | 33 | ||||
Metelasmus pseudopterus | 11.7 | 15 | ||||
Trichobius brennani | 44.1 | 106 | ||||
*Artibeus lituratus | 4 | 4 | - | Paratrichobius longicrus | - | 2 |
Trichobius brennani | - | 2 | ||||
Dermanura phaeotis | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | |
Dermanura tolteca | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | |
Dermanura watsoni | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | |
*Carollia subrufa | 1 | 1 | - | Strebla guajiro | - | 4 |
Trichobius joblingi | - | 2 | ||||
*Sturnira hondurensis | 3 | 3 | - | Aspidoptera delatorrei | - | 6 |
Megistopoda proxima | - | 1 | ||||
Desmodus rotundus | 40 | 31 | 77.5 | Strebla wiedemanni | 45 | 41 |
Trichobius parasiticus | 67.5 | 236 | ||||
Glossophaga soricina | 438 | 233 | 53.2 | Paraeuctenodes longipes | 1.8 | 8 |
Strebla guajiro | 4.3 | 20 | ||||
Trichobius diphyllae | 34.5 | 257 | ||||
Trichobius parasiticus | 0.2 | 1 | ||||
Trichobius uniformis | 29.6 | 199 | ||||
Nycterophilia fairchildi | 0.4 | 2 | ||||
Leptonycteris yerbabuenae | 5 | 4 | 80 | Nycterophilia parnelli | 40 | 6 |
Trichobius sphaeronotus | 40 | 3 | ||||
Natalus mexicanus | 3 | 1 | 33.3 | Trichobius galei | 33.3 | 3 |
Mormoops megalophylla | 18 | 4 | 22.2 | Nycterophilia parnelli | 5.5 | 3 |
Trichobius yunkeri | 5.5 | 5 | ||||
Trichobius leionotus | 11.1 | 6 | ||||
Pteronotus davyi | 96 | 23 | 23.9 | Nycterophilia parnelli | 3.1 | 3 |
Trichobius diphyllae | 1 | 1 | ||||
Trichobius hoffmannae | 20.8 | 73 | ||||
Trichobius johnsonae | 7.3 | 9 | ||||
Pteronotus parnellii | 37 | 30 | 88.1 | Nycterophilia parnelli | 54 | 59 |
Trichobius hoffmannae | 2.7 | 2 | ||||
Trichobius yunkeri | 64.9 | 174 | ||||
Trichobius sparsus | 2.7 | 1 | ||||
Trichobius uniformis | 2. 7 | 1 | ||||
Pteronotus personatus | 6 | 3 | 50 | Nycterophilia coxata | 33.3 | 9 |
Trichobius yunkeri | 16.7 | 1 | ||||
Trichobius johnsonae | 16.7 | 1 | ||||
Total | 732 | 385 | 1,317 |
The following list is organized by subfamily, genus, and species in alphabetical order. We include the primary references of valid genera and species and their synonyms if they exist, the examined material, relevant information of the taxa including previous records in Mexico, reported hosts, found parasitic prevalence, general streblid sex proportion and an account of the geographic distribution by country and by Mexican state.
Subfamily Nycterophiliinae Wenzel, 1966 Nycterophiliinae Wenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 430. Type genus: Nycterophilia Ferris, 1916. Additional reference: Sabrosky, 1999: 217.
There are 2 genera of Nycterophiliinae, PhalconomusWenzel, 1976, with 1 known species found in Venezuela (Wenzel, 1976), and Nycterophilia Ferris, 1916, with 6 described species (Dick, 2013; Reeves et al., 2013) with wider distribution in the Neotropics, including Mexico.
Genus Nycterophilia Ferris, 1916
Nycterophilia Ferris, 1916: 436. Type species: Nycterophilia coxata Ferris, 1916, by original designation.
Six species of this genus have been described (Reeves et al., 2013), 5 of them recorded in Mexico. The following species were found in the present study.
Nycterophilia coxata Ferris, 1916
Nycterophilia coxata Ferris, 1916: 437, Fig. 5, pl. 22, Fig. 6. Type locality: USA, California, Santa Margherita River, ex Macrotus californicus (Baird, 1858). Additional references: Guerrero, 1993: 67.
Material examined. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016, 5♂, 2♀ (ex Pteronotuspersonatus J. A. Wagner, 1843♂); 30.IX.2016, 1♂, 1♀ (ex P. personatus♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. In Mexico, N. coxata has been recorded in 12 states, on Artibeus jamaicensis Leach, 1821, Desmodus rotundus (È. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1810), Glossophaga soricina (Pallas, 1766), Leptonycteris curasoae Lydekker, 1891, L. nivalis (de Saussure, 1860), L. yerbabuenae Martínez and Villa, 1940, M. californicus, M. waterhousii Gray, 1843, Mormoops megalophylla (Peters, 1864), Natalus stramineus Gray, 1838, Pteronotus mesoamericanus Smith, 1972, P. davyi (Thomas, 1892), P. parnellii (Gray, 1843), and P. personatus. In this study, N. coxata was poorly represented, as we only found it on 2 individuals of P. personatus.
Known distribution. USA, Mexico [(Baja California, Colima, Guerrero, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas (Wenzel, 1970; Wenzel, 1976), Veracruz (Ryckman, 1956), Chiapas, Puebla, Yucatán (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996), and Jalisco (Ramírez et al., 2016)], Honduras (Dick, 2013), Colombia, Venezuela (Wenzel, 1976), and the Caribbean islands (Guerrero, 1993).
Nycterophilia fairchildiWenzel, 1966
Nycterophilia fairchildiWenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 436. Type locality: Panama, Coclé, Penonomé caves, ex Pteronotus suapurensis (Allen) (= Pteronotus gymnonotus Natterer, 1843).
Material examined. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 7.XI.2017, 1♂ (ex G. soricina♀); 30.IX.2016, 1♂ (ex G. soricina♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Nycterophilia fairchildi is currently known to be distributed in the Mexican states of Sinaloa (Wenzel, 1970), Veracruz, and Jalisco (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Ramírez et al., 2016), being found on P. gymnonotus, P. davyi, P. parnellii, P. personatus, M. megalophylla, N. stramineus, and Sturnira parvidens Goldman, 1917. This is the first record of N. fairchildi in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Known distribution. Mexico (see state records in comments), Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela (Guerrero, 1993).
Nycterophilia parnelliWenzel, 1966Nycterophiliaparnelli Wenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 434. Type locality: Panama, Canal zone, Paraíso, ex Pteronotus parnelli fuscus J. A. Allen, 1911 (= Pteronotus parnelli).
Material examined. 72 specimens on 25 hosts of 4 bat species. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016, 4♂, 6♀ (ex P. parnellii 4♂, 1♀); 23.VII.2016, 1♂ (ex P. davyi ♂); 22.VIII.2016, 1♂ (ex P. davyi ♂); 22.VIII.2016, 4♂, 1♀ (ex P. parnellii ♂, ♀); 22.XI.2016, 3♂, 1♀ (ex L. yerbabuenae ♀); 23.XI.2016, 1♂, 1♀ (ex L.yerbabuenae ♂); 15.XII.16, 1♂, 1 non sexed (ex P. parnellii ♂, 1 non sexed); 13.II.2017, 1♂, 1♀ (ex P. parnellii ♂); 10.V.2017, 3♂ (ex M. megalophylla ♀); 22.VI.2017, 1♂ (ex P. parnellii ♀); 23.VI.2017, 18♂, 8♀ (ex P. parnellii 5♀); 2.VIII.2017, 2♂ (ex P. parnellii ♀); 17.I.2018, 3♂, 2♀ (ex P. parnellii ♀); 18.I.2018, 1♂ (ex P. davyi ♂); 11.V.2018, 1♂ (ex P. parnelli ♂); 18.VI.2018, 2♂, 4♀ (ex P. parnellii ♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Mexican records of this species were found on the following hosts: Balantiopteryx plicata (Peters, 1867), Natalus mexicanus Miller, 1902, N. stramineus, and P. parnellii (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Ramírez et al., 2016; Wenzel, 1970; Wenzel, 1976). In the present study N. parnelli was found on L. yerbabuenae, M. megalophylla, P. davyi, P. parnellii, and P. personatus. Parasitic prevalence and sex proportion were different depending on the host; for L. yerbabuenae it was 40% while female: male proportion was 2:4, forM. megalophylla there was 5.5% prevalence and only 3 males were recorded. For P. davyi the parasitic prevalence was 4%, with only males recorded, for P. parnellii the parasite prevalence was 54% with a female: male proportion of 23:36, and for P. personatus the parasitic prevalence was 16.6% with a female: male proportion of 2:5.
Known distribution. Mexico (Colima, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Yucatán (Wenzel, 1970; Wenzel 1976), Chiapas, Jalisco, Puebla, Veracruz (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Ramírez et al., 2016), Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela (Wenzel, 1970; Wenzel, 1976).
Subfamily Streblinae Kolenati, 1863
Streblinae Kolenati, 1863: 90, 103. Type genus: Strebla Wiedemann, 1824. Additional references: Sabrosky, 1999: 292.
Some taxonomic publications on Streblidae mentioned Speiser (1900) as the author of this group. Nevertheless, Sabrosky (1999) states that Kolenati (1863) was the first to use the group epithet based on the genus type Strebla Wiedemann, with Hippobosca vespertilionis Fabricius, 1805 as type, later suppressed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1936), corresponding to Strebla wiedemanni Kolenati, 1856 (see also Dick et al., 2016). Currently, this subfamily comprises 4 genera: AnastreblaWenzel, 1966, Metelasmus Coquillett, 1907, Paraeuctenodes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1937, and Strebla Wiedemann, 1824, 3 of them represented at least by 1 species in the present inventory.
Genus Metelasmus Coquillett, 1907
Metelasmus Coquillett, 1907: 292. Type species: Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, by original designation.
Syn. Lemosia Pessôa & Galvão, 1936: 243. Type species: Lemosia setosa Pessôa & Galvão, by original designation. Additional references: Jobling, 1939: 494, as a synonym of Metelasmus.
Two species of Metelasmus have been described, but at least 1 other from Guatemala is known (Dick, 2013). Metelasmus wenzeliGraciolli & Dick (2004) occurs in Paraguay and southern Brazil (Graciolli & Dick, 2004). In Mexico, the following species have been reported.
Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, 1907
Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, 1907: 292, by original designation. Type locality: Paraguay, Sapucay, on Artibeus lituratus Olfers, 1818.
Syn. Lemosia setosa Pessôa & Galvão, 1936: 244, by original designation. Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, M'ogi das Cruzes.
Material examined. 15 specimens on 9 bat species. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco: 22.VII.2016, 1♂ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 23.VII.2016, 2♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 12.II.2017, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 21.III.2017, 1♂, 6♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 2♂); 22.VI.2017, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀); 2.X.2017, 1♂ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 17.I.2018, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 16.II.2018, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments and known distrubution.Hoffmann (1944) reported Metelasmus pseudopterus for the first time in Mexico, in the state of San Luis Potosí. Since then, this species has been reported in Jalisco, Yucatán and Chiapas (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018; Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015; Lira-Olguín et al., 2015; Ramírez et al., 2016; Tlapaya-Romero et al., 2015; Wenzel, 1970). In nearly all cases, M. pseudopterus has been found parasitizing A. jamaicensis, except for Tlapaya-Romero et al. (2015), who also reported Diphylla ecaudata Spix, 1823, Dermanura tolteca (de Saussure, 1860), S. parvidens, and Sturnira hondurensis Goodwin, 1940 as host species. According to Wenzel et al. (1966), M. pseudopterus seems to be a specialist of Stenodermatinae bats, especially those from the genus Artibeus, and in the present work we only found the species on A. jamaicensis. This streblid species was not known for Oaxaca, so this is the first report of M. pseudopterus in this Mexican state. Prevalence of M. pseudopterus was 10.4%, with a female: male sex ratio of 11:4.
Genus Paraeuctenodes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1937 Paraeuctenodes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1937: 257. Type species: Paraeuctenodes longipes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1937, by original designation.
This genus has 2 described species. Paraeuctenodes similisWenzel, 1976, is known in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela (Guerrero, 1996), and P. longipes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1937, with a wider distribution in the Neotropics including Mexico.
Paraeuctenodes longipes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1937
Paraeuctenodes longipes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1937: 258. Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, Ipiranga, ex Lonchoglossa ecaudata (= Anoura caudifer E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire).
Material examined. 8 specimens on 8 bat individuals. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 30.IX.2016, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♀); 23.XI.2016, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♂); 15.XII.2016, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♂); 15.I.2017, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♂); 16.I.2016, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♂); 13.II.2017, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♂); 14.II.2017, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♀); 17.II.2018, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments and known distribution. Mexican records of P. longipes by Hoffmann (1944) are from a site on the border between Veracruz and Oaxaca, obtained from G. soricina, Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758), and S. parvidens.Wenzel et al. (1966) mentioned a few specimens from Guatemala, and Wenzel (1970) reported it in Nicaragua. More recently, Dick (2013) recorded this species in Honduras. In this work, P. longipes was found parasitizing G. soricina, with a prevalence of 1.8%, for a total of 8 bat fly specimens in 438 bats, with a female: male proportion of 7:1.
Genus Strebla Wiedemann, 1824
Strebla Wiedemann, 1824: 19. Type species: Hippobosca vespertilionis Fabricius, 1805, by monotypy (= Strebla wiedemanni Kolenati, 1856).
Syn. Euctenodes Waterhouse, 1879: 310. Type species: Euctenodes mirabilis Waterhouse, by monotypy.
The genus Strebla currently includes 25 species, being the genus with the second highest species richness, only surpassed by Trichobius Gervais (Dick, 2013). Of all the species described, 9 have been recorded in Mexico, although Strebla mexicana Rondani, 1878, is unrecognizable.
Strebla guajiro (García & Casal, 1965)
Euctenodes guajiro García & Casal, 1965: 14. Type locality: Venezuela, Aragua, Campamento Rangel. Syn. Strebla carolliaeWenzel, 1966: 619. Type locality: Panama, Canal Zone, Fort Davis, ex Carollia perspicillata azteca de Saussure, 1860.
Material examined. 24 specimens on 19 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 15.XII.2016. 1♂ (ex G. soricina ♂); 15.I.2017, 1♂ (ex G. soricina ♀); 14.II.2017. 1♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina ♂, 2♀); 10. V.2017, 1♂, 1♀ (ex G. soricina 2♀); 11.V.2017, 2♂, 2♀ (ex. G. soricina ♂, 2♀); 8.XI.2017, 2♂, 2♀ (ex C. subrufa ♀); 1.XII.2017,1♂ (ex G. soricina ♂); 18.I.2018, 1♂ (ex G. soricina ♂); 9.IV.2018, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♀); 11. V.2018, 1♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina 2♂, ♀); 18.VI.2018, 1♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina ♀, ♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. In Mexico, this species was reported in Chiapas as Strebla carolliae by Wenzel (1970). Recently, S. guajiro was confirmed in the same state on Carollia sowelli Baker, Solari & Hoffmann, 2002 (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018). In this work, we present the first report of S. guajiro in Oaxaca, parasitizing 2 host species, G. soricina and Carollia subrufa (Hahn, 1905). Parasite prevalence was 4.3%, and female: male proportion was 11: 9 for G. soricina, while for C. subrufa the parasitic prevalence and female: male proportion were 100% and 1:1, respectively.
Known distribution. Mexico (Chiapas) (Guerrero, 1996), Honduras (Dick, 2013), El Salvador, Trinidad, Panama, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil (Wenzel, 1976), Colombia, Guyana, Surinam (Guerrero, 1996).
Strebla wiedemanni Kolenati, 1856
Hippobosca vespertilionis Fabricius, 1805: 339, suppressed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 1936: 46.
Strebla wiedemanni Kolenati, 1856: 46, nom. nov. for H. vespertilionis Fabricius.
Material examined. 41 specimens on 18 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 22.VII.2016, 3♂ (ex D. rotundus ♂) 23.VII.2016, 4♂, 3♀ (ex D. rotundus 2♂, 2♀); 21.VIII.2016, 1♂, 1♀ (ex D. rotundus ♂); 22.VHI.2016, 8♂, 5♀ (ex D. rotundus 4♂); 21.XI.2016, 1♀ (ex D. rotundus ♀); 20.III.2017, 3♂ (ex D. rotundus ♂); 10.V.2017, 1♂, 1♀ (ex D. rotundus ♀); 2.VIII.2017, 4♂, 2♀ (ex D. rotundus 2♀); 17.I.2018, 1♀ (ex D. rotundus ♀), 9.IV.2018, 2♂, 1♀ (ex D. Rotundus 2♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments and known distribution. Strebla wiedemanni was reported for the first time in Mexico by Hoffmann (1944; 1953) in Chiapas, Yucatán and the state of Mexico, found on Anoura geoffroyi Gray, 1838, S. parvidens, and Platyrrhinus helleri (Peters, 1866). More recently, it has been recorded on D. rotundus (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015; Lira-Olguín et al., 2015), as reported by Wenzel et al. (1966), who mentioned that 96% of the specimens were obtained from D. rotundus. In this study, S. wiedemanni was only found parasitizing D. rotundus, its principal host, although it can be found on other occasional hosts. In this work, parasitic prevalence was 45% and the female: male proportion was 15:26. This constitutes the first report of the species for the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Subfamily Trichobiinae Kishida, 1931
Trichobiinae Kishida, 1932: 84, 88. Type genus: Trichobius Gervais, 1844. Additional references: Sabrosky, 1999: 312.
Subfamily authorship had been given to Jobling (1936), but Sabrosky (1999) indicated that Kishida (1932) was the first who recognize this group. This subfamily is the most diverse of the Streblidae, represented by 20 genera including the recently recognized genus MegistapophysisDick & Wenzel (2006).
Genus Aspidoptera Coquillett, 1899
Aspidoptera Coquillett, 1899: 334. Type species:
Aspidoptera busckii Coquillett, 1899, by original designation (= Aspidoptera phyllostomatis (Perty)). Syn. LepopteryxSpeiser, 1900: 42, 53. Type species: Lipoptena phyllostomatis Perty, 1833. Synonym by Speiser, 1907: 104.
Aspidoptera includes 3 species restricted to Stenodermatinae (Phyllostomidae) bats (Dick, 2013), of which A. falcata was not recorded in Mexico before this work.
Aspidoptera phyllostomatis (Perty, 1833)
Lipoptena phyllostomatis Perty, 1833: 190, pl. 37, fig. 16.
Type locality: "Brazil".
Aspidoptera phyllostomatis (Perty): Speiser, 1900: 153. Syn. Aspidoptera busckii Coquillett, 1899: 335. Type locality: Puerto Rico, Bayamon, from Artibeus sp., synonym by Speiser, 1900: 153. Additional references: Wenzel et al., 1966: 555 (resurrected); Wenzel, 1976: 107 (as synonym of A. phyllostomatis).
Material examined. 26 specimens on 19 host individuals. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 22.VII.2016, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 23.VII.2016, 3♂, 4♀ (exA. jamaicensis 3♀, 2 non sexed); 12.II.2017, 2♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 13.II.2017, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 21.III.2017, 2♂, 3♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 3♂, 2?); 22.VI.2017, 1♂,1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀); 2.VIII.2017, 1♂ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀); 2.X.2017, 2♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂, ♀); 1.XII.2017, 1♂, 3♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀); 11.V.2018, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Aspidoptera phyllostomatis was reported as A. busckii for various localities of Mexico (not specified) by Wenzel et al. (1966). It was also reported for Jalisco, Mexico as A. buscki (sic!) by Wenzel (1977), and was later recorded (without indication of the precise locality) by Webb and Loomis (1977) on A. jamaicensis (Whitaker & Morales-Malacara, 2005), and Ramírez et al. (2016) confirmed its presence in the state of Jalisco. This is the first report of A. phyllostomatis for the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. It was found on A. jamaicensis with a prevalence of 24.7%, and sex proportion of 18 females: 8 males.
Known distribution. Mexico (Jalisco and Oaxaca), Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil (Dick, 2013; Wenzel et al., 1966; Wenzel, 1970, 1976).
Aspidoptera delatorreiWenzel, 1966
Aspidoptera delatorreiWenzel, in Wenzel et al., 1966: 557. Type locality: Panama, Guánico, Los Santos, ex Sturnira lilium parvidens.
Material examined. 6 specimens on 3 hosts. MEXICO, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 21.XI.2016, 2♂, 1♀ (ex S. hondurensis ♀); 14.XII.2016, 2♀ (ex S. hondurensis♂); 8.XI.2017, 1♀ (ex S. hondurensis ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Aspidoptera delatorrei was first found in Mexico in the state of Jalisco by Wenzel et al. (1966). Later, it was reported in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Jalisco, Veracruz, and Yucatán (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018; Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015, 2016; Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Ramírez et al., 2016; Wenzel, 1970). In these studies, A. delatorrei was commonly found on S. parvidens and S. hondurensis, but in other reports it was found on A. jamaicensis (Ramírez et al., 2016). In Michoacán, this species was found on S. hondurensis and A. geoffroyi (Trujillo-Pahua & Ibáñez-Bernal, 2019). Wenzel et al. (1966) mentioned S. parvidens as the main host, but unexpectedly it was also found on C. perspicillata. In this work A. delatorrei was found on S. hondurensis with prevalence of 100% and a female-male proportion of 4:2.
Known distribution. Mexico (Chiapas, Jalisco, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Yucatán), Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015, 2016; Dick, 2006; Ramírez et al., 2016; Trujillo-Pahua & Ibáñez-Bernal, 2019; Wenzel, 1970, 1976; Wenzel et al., 1966).
Genus Megistopoda Macquart, 1852
Megistopoda Macquart, 1852: 332. Type species: Megistopoda pilatei Macquart, by monotypy (= Megistopoda aranea Coquillett, according with Wenzel et al., 1966: 542).
Syn. Pterellipsis Coquillett, 1899: 333. Type species: Pterellipsis aranea Coquillett, 1899, by subsequent designation of Coquillett, 1910: 597).
Megistopoda includes 3 species, but the high morphological variation and difficulty in differentiating M. proxima (Séguy) from M. theodori Wenzel, highlights their taxonomic reevaluation (Dick, 2013).
Megistopoda aranea (Coquillett, 1899)
Pterellipsis aranea Coquillett, 1899: 334. Type locality: Jamaica, ex undetermined bats.
Syn. Megistopoda desiderataSpeiser, 1900a: 57, pl. 3, Figs. 6-8. Type locality: Brazil, Cuba, with no specific localities, ex. Phyllostoma sp.; Speiser 1900b: 154, as synonym of P. aranea Coquillett.
Material examined. 33 specimens on 20 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016, 1♂, 9♀ (ex A. jamaicensis2♀, 2 not sexed); 21.VIII.2016, 2♂, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂, ♀); 14.I.2017, 1♂ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 21.III.2017, 3♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 3♀); 11.V.2017, 1♂, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀); 22.VI.2017, 1♂,1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀); 23.VI.2017, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 2.VIII.2017, 3♂, 3♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 2♂, ♀); 2.X.2017, 2♂ (ex A. jamaicensis 2♀); 1.XII.2017, 1♂ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀); 11.V.2018, 2♂ (ex A. jamaicensis 2♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments.Hoffmann (1953) reported M. aranea for the first time in Yucatán, Mexico. Since then, this species has been found in other states including Campeche, Chiapas, and San Luis Potosí (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018; Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015; Hoffmann, 1953; Lira-Olguín et al., 2015; Tlapaya-Romero et al., 2015). In all the Mexican states, M. aranea was found parasitizing A. jamaicensis, and occasionally A. lituratus (Wenzel, 1976). This species was previously unknown for Oaxaca, making this the first report for this state. The parasitic prevalence found was 25.9%, and the female: male ratio was 19:14.
Known distribution. Mexico (Campeche, Chiapas, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Yucatán, see references above), Central America and Honduras on A. jamaicensis and A. planirostris (Spix, 1823) (Dick, 2013); Panama and Venezuela on A. jamaicensis (Wenzel, 1966); Paraguay on A. fimbriatus Gray, 1838 (Dick, 2006); Greater and Lesser Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago (Wenzel, 1970), Brazil, Peru, Paraguay (Wenzel, 1970, Wenzel, 1976), Bolivia (Guerrero, 1994); in Brazil it was also recorded on A. planirostris, A. lituratus, and as a rare record on Carolliaperspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Urbieta et al., 2014).
Megistopoda proxima (Séguy, 1926)
Pterellipsis proxima Séguy, 1926: 194. Type locality: Argentina, Misiones, environs of San Ignacio, Villa Lutecia, on an unidentified bat.
Material examined. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 21.XI.2016, 1♀ (ex S. hondurensis ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Megistopoda proxima was first reported in Mexico in the states of Chiapas and Jalisco (Wenzel, 1970), and later in Jalisco, Veracruz, and Yucatán (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015, 2016; Ramírez et al., 2016). This species has been found on C. sowelli, N. mexicanus, S. parvidens, and S. hondurensis (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018; Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015, 2016; Ramírez et al., 2016; Wenzel, 1970). In our samples, we only observed 1 specimen of M. proxima parasitizing 1 of 3 specimens of S. hondurensis, despite that Wenzel (1966) mentioned that it is restricted to S. parvidens (= S. lilium). We are not aware of any previous record of this species in Oaxaca, making it the first for the state.
Known distribution. Mexico (Chiapas, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Veracruz), Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, south of Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina (Wenzel, 1970), Cuba, Dominica, Martinique, and Uruguay (Guerrero, 1994, 1996; Hoffmann, 1944).
Genus Paratrichobius Costa Lima, 1921
Paratrichobius Costa Lima, 1921: 20. Type species: Trichobius longicrus Miranda-Ribeiro, by original designation.
Currently, there are 6 described species for this genus, but there are problems with the definition of its species limits (Dick, 2013). In Mexico, only 1 species has been recorded.
Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1907)
Trichobius longicrus Miranda-Ribeiro, 1907: 236. Type locality: Brazil, Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, ex A. jamaicensis.
Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda-Ribeiro) of Costa
Lima, 1921: 20.
Material examined. 2 specimens in 2 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco. 15.I.2017, 1♂ (ex A. lituratus ♀); 17.I.2018, 1♂ (ex A. lituratus ♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. In Mexico, P. longicrus was first reported in Chiapas (Kuns & Tashian, 1954), and later in the states of Jalisco, San Luis Potosí, and Tlaxcala. Host species reported for Mexico are A. jamaicensis, A. lituratus, Dermanura azteca (Andersen, 1906), and Enchisthenes hartii (Thomas, 1892) (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018; Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Kuns & Tashian, 1954; Ramírez et al., 2016; Wenzel, 1970). In the present study we report this species for the first time in Oaxaca, with a parasitic prevalence of 50% and a female: male sex proportion of 1:1. All specimens were found on A. lituratus.
Known distribution. Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala) (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara 1996; Wenzel, 1970), Central America, Honduras (Dick, 2013), Venezuela, Brazil, Peru (Wenzel, 1970), and Bolivia (Guerrero, 1994).
Genus Trichobius Gervais, 1844
Trichobius Gervais, 1844: 14. Type species: Trichobius parasiticus Gervais, 1844, by monotypy.
Syn. Kolenatia Rondani, 1878: 169. Type species: Strebla wiedemanni Kolenati, 1863 (not Kolenati, 1856), by original designation.
Syn. Kesselia Curran, 1934: 522. Type species: Kesselia pallida Curran, 1934, by original designation.
Trichobius is the most diverse streblid genus with 68 described species (Dick, 2013). In Mexico, 24 species have been recorded (Trujillo-Pahua & Ibáñez-Bernal, 2019), of which only 3 were known for Oaxaca. We report the occurrence of the following 12 species.
Trichobius brennaniWenzel, 1966
Trichobius brennaniWenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 497. Type locality: Panama, Chiriquí, near Cerro Punta, casa Tilley, ex Sturnira ludovici Anthony, 1924.
Material examined. 106 specimens on 35 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco: 22.VII.2016, 5♂, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 23.VII.2016, 20♂, 16♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 3♂, 7♀); 21.VIII.2016, 3♂, 4♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂, ♀); 21.X.2016, 1♀ (ex A. lituratus ♂); 14.I.2017, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂); 2.II.2017, 6♂, 6♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 4♂); 12.II.2017, 1♀ (ex A. lituratus ♂); 13.II2017, 3♂, 3♀ (ex. A. jamaicensis ♂); 10.V.2017, 4♂, 2♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 2♂); 22.VI.2017, 5♂, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀), 2.VIII.2017, 3♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 2♂, ♀); 2.X.2017, 7♂, 1♀ (ex A. jamaicensis ♂, 3♀); 17.I.2018, 2♂ (ex A. jamaicensis ♀); 11.V.2018, 3♂, 7♀ (ex A. jamaicensis 3♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments and known distribution. Trichobius brennani was recently recorded in Mexico, with specimens found on 1 individual of S. hondurensis in the state of Veracruz (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2016), and in the same bat species in Michoacán (Trujillo-Pahua & Ibáñez-Bernal, 2019). In accordance with Wenzel et al. (1966) this species is apparently restricted to Artibeus and Sturnira bats. This is the first time the species is recorded in the state of Oaxaca. We found T. brennani on A. jamaicensis, and A. lituratus. In A. jamaicensis, the parasitic prevalence of T. brennani was 44.1%, with a female: male proportion of 45:59. In the case of A. lituratus this species had a parasitic prevalence of 100%, but only 2 females were obtained.
Trichobius diphyllaeWenzel, 1966
Trichobius diphyllaeWenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 492. Type locality: Guatemala, Jalapa, San Lorenzo, 4 miles northeast of Volcan Jumay, ex Diphylla ecaudata centralis.
Material examined. 258 specimens on 157 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016, 1♂ (ex G. soricina ♀); 30.IX.2016, 3♂ (ex G. soricina ♀); 21.XI.2016, 2♂ (ex G. soricina ♀, ♂); 23.XI.2016, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♀); 14.XII.2016, 2♂ (ex G. soricina ♂, ♀); 15.XII.2016, 6♂, 3♀ (ex G. soricina 4♂, 2?); 15.XII.16, 1♂ (ex P. davyi ♂); 14.1.2017, 3♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina2♀, ♂); 15.I.2017, 10♂, 11♀ (ex G. soricina 5♂, 8♀); 16.I.2017, 8♂, 11♀ (ex G. soricina. 2♂, 6♀, 1 non sexed); 12.II.2017, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♂); 13.II.2017, 21♂, 15♀ (ex G. soricina 4♂, 14♀); 14.II.2017, 31♂, 10♀ (ex G. soricina 9♂, 12♀); 21.III.2017, 1♂1♀ (G. soricina 2♀); 22.III.2017, 1♂ (ex G soricina ♂); 10.V.2017, 5♀ (ex G soricina 3♂, 2♀); 11.V.2017, 23♂, 11♀ (ex G. soricina 10♂, 13♀); 7.XI.2017, 6♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina ♂, 6♀); 1.XII.2017, 5♂, 1♀ (ex G. soricina 3♀); 17.I.2018, 5♂ (G. soricina ♂, 2♀); 18.I.2018, 3♂, 1♀ (ex G soricina 2♂); 16.II.2018, 2♂, 1♀ (ex G. soricina 2♂, ♀); 17.II.2018; 1♂, 3♀ (ex G. soricina 3♂); 9.IV.2018, 15♂, 3♀ (ex G. soricina 6♂, 4♀); 11.V.2018, 9♂, 4♀ (ex G. soricina 3♂, 3♀) and 18.VI.2018, 11♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina 4♂, 4♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. In Mexico, T. diphyllae was recorded for the first time in the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatán (Wenzel et al., 1966; Wenzel, 1970). Recent studies have confirmed the records from Yucatán (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015) and its presence in the state of Veracruz (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2016). These papers reported D. ecaudata as the host species. In the present study T. diphyllae was found on G. soricina with a parasitic prevalence of 35.8% and a female: male proportion of 88:169, on P. davyi with a parasitic prevalence of 1%, and was represented by only 2 females that could be considered natural contamination from other species at the cave. This is the first record of T. diphyllae in the state of Oaxaca.
Known distribution. Mexico (Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Veracruz, and Yucatán), Guatemala, Venezuela (Wenzel et al., 1966; Wenzel, 1970), Honduras (Dick, 2013), and Peru (Guerrero, 1995a).
Trichobius galeiWenzel, 1966
Trichobius galeiWenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 449. Type locality: Panama, Canal Zone, Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo caves, ex Natalus stramineus mexicanus.
Material examined. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 21.III.2017, 3♂ (ex N. mexicanus ♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., Col.
Comments. Trichobius galei was recorded for the first time in Mexico in the states of Veracruz and Chiapas parasitizing N. mexicanus and D. rotundus (Cuxim-Kocoy et al., 2016; Lira-Olguín et al., 2015), but the latter was probably a case of contamination as indicated by the authors. This species was subsequently found in the state of Jalisco onM. megalophylla (Ramírez et al., 2016). In our study, T. galei was found on N. mexicanus with a parasitic prevalence of 33.3%, though only male specimens were found. This represents the first report of T. galei in the state of Oaxaca.
Known distribution. Mexico (Chiapas, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Veracruz) (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2016; Lira-Olguín et al., 2015; Ramírez et al., 2016), Panama (Wenzel et al., 1966), Honduras, Venezuela, and Paraguay (Dick, 2013).
Trichobius hoffmannaeGuerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996
Trichobius hoffmannaeGuerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996: 359. Type locality: Mexico, Veracruz, Puente Nacional, Cueva Arroyo Bellaco, ex Pteronotus davyi.
Material examined. 74 specimens on 21 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016, 2♂, 1♀ (ex P. davyi 2♂); 23.VIII.2016, 4♂, 5♀ (ex P. davyi 3♂, ♀); 15.XII.2016, 2♂, 2♀ (ex P. davyi ♂, 1 non sexed); 14.I.2017, 4♂ (ex P. davyi ♂); 15.I.2017, 11♂, 5♀ (ex P. davyi ♂ 1 non sexed); 20.III.2017, 4♂, 10♀ (ex P. davyi ♂); 21.III.2017, 2♂, 2♀ (ex P. davyi ♂); 22.VI.2017, 3♂, 8♀ (ex P. davyi ♂); 23.VI.2017, 1♂ (ex P. parnellii ♀); 16.II.2018, 2♀ (ex P. davyi ♀), 17.II.2018, 1♂, 1♀ (ex P. davyi 2♂); 9.IV.2018, 1♂, 1♀ (ex P. davyi 2♂); 11.V.2018, 2♂ (ex P. davyi ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Trichobius hoffmannae was described with specimens obtained from M. megalophylla, N. stramineus, P. davyi, P. parnellii, and P. personatus in the states of Chiapas and Veracruz (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1966). Specimens collected in this study came from P. davyi and P. parnellii. Parasitic prevalence was 20.8% on P. davyi, with a female: male proportion of 37:36. On the other hand, for P. parnellii only 1 female specimen of T. hoffmannae was found. This is the second report for this species since its description and constitutes the first record for the state of Oaxaca.
Known distribution. Mexico (Chiapas and Veracruz) (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1966).
Trichobius joblingiWenzel, 1966
Trichobius joblingiWenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 481. Type locality: Panama, Canal Zone, railroad culvert east of Summit Golf Club, ex Carollia perspicillata azteca.
Material examined. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 8.XI.2017, 1♂, 1♀ (ex C. subrufa ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Trichobius joblingi was reported in the states of Chiapas and Veracruz (Wenzel 1970), but without mention of the hosts. In Chiapas, Jalisco, Oaxaca, and Yucatán, it was obtained from A. jamaicensis, D. ecaudata, D. rotundus, C. perspicillata, G. soricina, S. ludovici, and Trachops cirrhosus (Spix, 1823) (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Ramírez et al., 2018; Tlapaya-Romero et al., 2015). During this study, only 1 specimen was collected on C. subrufa. Wenzel et al. (1966) mentioned that T. joblingi seems to parasitize species of Carollia, considering that findings in other bat genera may be transitory associations by transference.
Known distribution. Mexico (Chiapas, Veracruz) (Wenzel, 1970), Oaxaca, Yucatán (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996), Puebla (Field Museum: Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Insect, Arachnid and Myriapod Collection, 2014-06-25. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/919692569 on 2015-04-12), Chiapas (Field Museum: Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Insect, Arachnid and Myriapod Collection, 2014-06-25. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/919683991 on 2015-04-12), Central America, Trinidad and Tobago, South America towards Brazil, and Peru (Wenzel, 1970), Bolivia (Guerrero, 1995).
Trichobius johnsonaeWenzel, 1966
Trichobius johnsonaeWenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 455. Type locality: Panama, Coclé, Penonomé Cave, ex Pteronotus psilotis (Dobson, 1878) (= Pteronotus personatus psilotis).
Material examined. 10 specimens on 8 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 30.IX.2016, 1♂, 1♀ (ex P. davyi ♀); 1♂. I.2017, 1♂ (ex P. davyi); 20.III.2017, 1♂ (ex P. davyi ♂); 2.X.2017, 15 (P. personatus ♂); 18.I.2018, 1♂, 1♀ (P. davyi ♂); 17.II.2018, 1♂ (P. davyi ♂); 17.II.2018, 1♂ (P. davyi ♂); 9.IV.2018, 1♂ (P. davyi ♂), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Trichobius johnsonae was reported in Mexico in the states of Chiapas and Veracruz (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996), on M. megalophylla, N. stramineus, P. davyi, P. parnellii, and P. personatus. It has also been found in the state of Jalisco on P. personatus (Ramírez et al., 2016). In this study, this bat fly species was found on P. davyi and P. personatus. Parasitic prevalence was of 7.3% on P. davyi, and female: male proportion was 2:7. In contrast, only 1 specimen was obtained from P. personatus. This is the first record in the state of Oaxaca.
Known distribution. Mexico (Chiapas, Veracruz) (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara 1996), Colima (Field Museum: Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Insect, Arachnid and Myriapod Collection, 2014-06-25. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/919682305 on 2015-04-12; 2014-06-25. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/919661549 on 2015-04-12), Sinaloa (Field Museum: Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Insect, Arachnid and Myriapod Collection, 2014-06-25. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/919714181 on 2015-04-12), Oaxaca (new record), Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela (Wenzel, 1970).
Trichobius leionotusWenzel, 1976
Trichobius leionotusWenzel, 1976: 43. Type locality: Guatemala, Alta Vera Paz, Lanquin, Cueva de Lanquin, ex Mormoops megalophylla. Paratypes on Pteronotus davyi fulvus.
Material examined. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016, 2♂, 3♀ (ex M. megalophylla); 2.VIII.2017, 1♂ (ex M. megalophylla), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Trichobius leionotus was reported in Mexico in the states of Puebla, Veracruz (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996), in Nuevo León from Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana (de Saussure, 1860) as an accidental record (Guzmán-Cornejo et al., 2003), and Jalisco (Ramírez et al., 2016). This is the first report from the state of Oaxaca. In this study the parasitic prevalence on M. megalophylla was 11.1%, and the female: male proportion was 3:3.
Trichobius parasiticus Gervais, 1844
Trichobius parasiticus Gervais, 1844: 14. Type locality: Guiane (locality not mentioned), ex Desmodus rufus (= Desmodus rotundus).
Syn. Trichobius kesseli Guimarães, 1938: 660, nom. nov. for T. parasiticus Gervais of Kessel, 1925: 15 (error).
Material examined. 237 specimens on 28 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 22.VII.20168, 7♂, 3♀ (ex D. rotundus 2♂); 23.VII.2016, 24♂, 19♀ (ex D. rotundus 2♂, 3♀); 22.VIII.2016, 32♂, 17♀, 3 non sexed (ex D. rotundus 4♂, ♀); 21.XI.2016, 3♂, 5♀ (ex D. rotundus ♀); 20.III.2017, 3♂, 1♀ (ex D rotundus 2♀); 21.III.2017, 5♂, 6♀ (ex D. rotundus ♂, ♀); 10.V.2017, 9♂, 3♀ (ex D. rotundus ♀); 2.VIII.2017, 53♂, 26♀ (ex D. rotundus 3♀); 17.I.2018, 2♂ (ex D. rotundus 2♀); 18.I.2018, 1♂, 1♀ (ex D. rotundus ♂), 17.I.2018, 1♂ (ex G. soricina ♀); 9.IV.2018, 8♂, 5♀ (ex D. rotundus2♂, ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments.Hoffmann (1944, 1953) reported T. parasiticus in the states of Yucatán, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, and Guerrero, and Kuns & Tashian (1954), Lira-Olguín et al. (2015), and Ramírez et al. (2016) found this species in Chiapas and Jalisco parasitizing D. rotundus and D. ecaudata. It has also been found on A. jamaicensis, Centurio senex Gray, 1842, and Chrotopterus auritus (Peters, 1856); nevertheless, Cuxim-Koyoc et al. (2015) considered these cases of contamination. In the present study T. parasiticus was found on D. rotundus and G. soricina. Parasitic prevalence for the former was 70%, with a female: male proportion of 86:146, whereas in G. soricina only 1 strebid specimen was found, and probably represents natural contamination.
Known distribution. Trichobius parasiticus has been recorded in Mexico (Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Yucatán (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015; Hoffmann, 1944; Kuns & Tashian, 1954; Lira-Olguín et al., 2015; Ramírez et al., 2016), Chihuahua, and Sinaloa (Field Museum: Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Insect, Arachnid and Myriapod Collection, 2014-06-25. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/919690945 on 2015-04-13)), Central America, Trinidad, South America south to Brazil, Peru, Argentina (Wenzel 1970), Bolivia, and Chile (Guerrero, 1995).
Trichobius sparsus Kessel, 1925
Trichobius sparsus Kessel, 1925: 17. Type locality: Panama, Chilibrillo river, ex Chilonycteris rubiginosa fusca (= Pteronotus parnelli fuscus).
Material examined. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016, 1♀ (ex P. parnellii ♂); 30.IX.2016, 1♂ (ex P. davyi ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Trichobius sparsus was previously reported in Mexico in the state of Veracruz (Guerrero & Morales- Malacara, 1996), and later in Jalisco (Ramírez et al., 2016), parasitizing N. stramineus, M. megalophylla, and P. parnellii. In this study, which reports the first record in the state of Oaxaca, we found this species on P. parnellii and P. davyi, with a parasitic prevalence of 2.7% and 16.6 %, respectively.
Known distribution. Mexico (Veracruz (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996), Colima (Field Museum: Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Insect, Arachnid and Myriapod Collection, 2014-06-25. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/919678056 on 2015-04-13), Sonora (Field Museum: Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Insect, Arachnid and Myriapod Collection, 2014-06-25. Accessed via http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/919662614 on 2015-04-13)), Guatemala, Panama, and Venezuela (Wenzel, 1970).
Trichobius sphaeronotus Jobling, 1939
Trichobius sphaeronotus Jobling, 1939: 494. Type locality: Mexico, Nuevo Leon, Cerro Potosi, ex Leptonycteris nivalis (de Saussure, 1860).
Material examined. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 21.XI.2016, 2♂, 1♀ (ex L. yerbabuenae ♂, ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Trichobius sphaeronotus was described in Nuevo Leon, Mexico (Jobling, 1939), since then, this species has been reported in Baja California, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Puebla, and Veracruz, on the following bat species: D. rotundus, L. nivalis, L. curasoae, L. yerbabuenae, M. californicus, M. megalophylla, and P. davyi (Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Hoffmann, 1944,1953; Ramírez et al., 2016). In this study T. sphaeronotus was found on L. yerbabuenae, with a parasitic prevalence of 80% and a female: male proportion of 1:2. This is the first time the species is recorded in the state of Oaxaca.
Known distribution. USA, Mexico (Baja California, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz).
Trichobius uniformis Curran, 1935
Trichobius uniformis Curran, 1935: 10. Type locality: Panama, Canal Zone, Paraíso, ex Glossophaga soricina leachii (= Glossophaga leachii (Gray, 1844)).
Material examined. 199 specimens on 131 hosts. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016. 3♂, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♂, ♀); 23.XIII.2016, 2♂ (ex G. soricina ♂); 30.IX.2016, 1 ♂ (ex G. soricina ♀); 23.XI.2016, 7♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina 4♂, 3♀); 1♂.XII.2016, 1♀ (ex P. parnellii ♀); 15.XII.2016, 5♂, 6♀ (ex G. soricina 4♂, 4♀); 15.I.2017, 13♂, 3♀ (ex G. soricina 5♂, 7♀); 16.I.2017, 12♂, 4♀ (ex G. soricina 5♂, 3♀,1 non sexed); 13.II.2017, 9♂, 4♀ (ex G. soricina 5♂, 4♀); 14.II.2017, 7♂, 4♀ (ex G. soricina 4♂, 3♀); 21.III.2017, 1♂ (ex G. soricina ♀); 22.III.2017, 5♂ (ex G. soricina 5♀); 10.V.2017, 4♂, 1♀ (ex G. soricina 2♂, 2♀); 11.V.2017, 275, 13♀ (ex G. soricina 10♂, 9♀); 7.XI.2017, 1♂, 1♀ (ex G. soricina ♀, ♂); 8.XI.2017, 1♂ (ex G. soricina ♀); 1.XII.2017, 9♂ (ex G. soricina 2♂, 4♀); 17.I.2018, 4♂, 1♀ (ex G. soricina 2♂, 2♀); 16.II.2018, 13♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina 8♂, 5♀); 9.IV.2018, 8♂, 6♀, 1 non sexed (ex G. soricina 6♂, 3♀); 11.V.2018, 6♂, 2♀ (ex G. soricina 2♂, 3♀); 18.VI.2018, 6♂, 3♀ (ex G. soricina 3♂, 2♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments. Trichobius uniformis is reported in Chiapas, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas (Hoffmann, 1944, 1953), Yucatán (Wenzel, 1970), Jalisco, and Veracruz (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015; Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Ramírez et al., 2016). In nearly all cases except in Hoffmann's (1944, 1953) studies, the species was found on Molossus rufus È. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1805, Myotis nigricans (Schinz, 1821), Saccopteryx bilineata (Temminck, 1838), and G. sorina. In this study, we only found this species on G. sorina, with a parasitic prevalence of 29.6%, and a female: male proportion of 54:144. Only 1 specimen of T. uniformis was found on P. parnellii, which probably represents a case of contamination. This is the first record in the state of Oaxaca.
Known distribution. Mexico (see states in comments), to Venezuela, Guyana, Peru (Wenzel, 1970).
Trichobius yunkeriWenzel, 1966
Trichobius yunkeriWenzel, In Wenzel et al., 1966: 453. Type locality: Panama, Canal Zone, Paraíso, ex Pternonotus parnelli fuscus.
Material examined. 177 specimens on 27 hosts belonging to 3 bat species. Mexico, Oaxaca, Santa María Huatulco, Cueva Cerro Huatulco, 23.VII.2016, 1♂ (ex P. personatus ♂); 23.VII.2016, 16♂, 32♀ (ex P. parnellii 5♂, 3♀); 24.VII.2016, 1♀ (ex P. parnellii ♂); 22.VIII.2016, 10♂, 4♀ (ex P. parnellii 2♂, ♀); 12.II.2017, 1♂, 2♀ (ex P. parnellii ♂); 13.II.2017, 5♂ (ex P. parnellii ♂); 10.V.2017, 3♂, 2♀ (ex M. megalophylla ♀); 22.VI.2017, 3♂, 3♀ (ex P. parnellii ♀); 23.VI.2017, 30♂, 37♀ (ex P. parnellii 5♀); 02.VIII.2017, 13♂, 5♀ (ex P. parnellii ♀); 17.I.2018, 1♂, 1♀ (ex P. parnellii ♂); 11.V.2018, 1♀ (ex. P. parnellii 5); 18.VI.2018, 3♂, 3♀ (ex P. parnellii ♀), Tlapaya-Romero, L., col.
Comments and known distribution. Trichobius yunkeri is known to occur in the states of Guerrero, Jalisco, Sinaloa, Yucatán (Wenzel, 1970), Chiapas, Jalisco, Puebla, and Veracruz (Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015; Guerrero & Morales-Malacara, 1996; Ramírez et al., 2016). In these studies, T. yunkeri was found on P. parnellii, P. personatus, P. mesoamericanus, M. megalophylla, and N. stramineus. The specimens studied here were found on P. parnellii, P. personatus, and M. megalophylla, with the following parasitic prevalence and female: male proportions: 67.6% and 89:82 for P. parnellii, 16.6% and 1 specimen male for P. personatus, and 5.5%, and 2:3 for M. megalophylla. This is the first record of the species in the state of Oaxaca.
Discussion
In the Neotropics, streblids are represented by 153 described species, corresponding to 64% of the known streblids worldwide (Borkent et al., 2018). Regional species inventories are currently more common in the literature, and constitute the first step towards understanding parasite relationships and their role in the transmission of pathogens in bat communities. Even though recent efforts to characterize the streblid fauna of Mexico have increased the number of known species to 55 (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018; Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015, 2016; Whitaker & Morales-Malacara, 2005), there are still large areas awaiting to be studied.
Even though Oaxaca is recognized as a megadiverse state, the streblid fauna has been poorly studied, with only 3 previous studies that altogether recorded 9 species. In this study, with an effort concentrated in only 1 cave but involving systematic and periodic sampling, 19 streblid species were added to the Oaxacan fauna, increasing the recorded bat fly species for the state to 27. This amounts to 49% of the Mexican species, obtained from 12 bat species that represent 12.9% of the species reported in Oaxaca.
It is important to mention that of the 9 streblid species previously recorded in Oaxaca, we did not find Speiseria ambigua and Strebla mirabilis, found on Macrotus sp. and B. plicata by Hoffmann (1953) and Guerrero and Morales-Malacara (1996). We did not find the latter 2 bat species in our study. Also, we did not obtain T. adamsi, despite that this species was reported on D. rotundus, a very abundant bat in our samples.
The Phyllostomidae family was the best represented in our study with 10 species, corresponding to 17.8% of the species known in Oaxaca (García-Grajales & Buenrostro-Silva, 2012). The Mormoopidae and Natalidae families were represented by 4 species each, comprising all the species known in this Mexican state. Glossophaga sorina presented the highest capture frequence, with 438 individuals followed by P. parnellii and A. jamaicensis with 96 and 77 individuals, respectively. In contrast, C. subrufa (N = 1), S. hondurensis (N = 3) and N. mexicanus (N = 3) were the species with the lowest number of individuals captured.
Phyllostomidae presented the highest streblid richness with 17 species, followed by Mormopidae with 8 streblid species and Natalidae with only 1 bat fly species. Even though few species of bat flies were found parasitizing more than 1 bat species, in general the host species belong to the same family. This was the case of T. brennani, which was found on A. jamaicensis and A. lituratus; S. guajiro recorded on C. subrufa and G. soricina. Moreover, T. hoffmannae and T. johnsonae were collected on 2 species, whereas T. yunkeri was obtained from 3 Mormoopidae species. Only N. parnelli was found parasitizing 3 bat species from 2 different bat families (Phylostomidae and Mormoopidae).
Of the 15 bat species recorded, D. phaeotis, D. tolteca, and D. watsoni (with 1 individual each) did not have streblids, but in the other 12 bat species (728 captured individuals) we obtained a total of 1,317 streblid specimens belonging to 24 species. This richness of streblid species is only similar to that obtained by Ramírez et al. (2016), who found 24 streblid species on 297 bats. Nevertheless, the latter study was more extensive, carried out throughout 4 years in a larger sampling area including different localities in southwestern Jalisco, southern coast and Sierra Amula, with different types of vegetation. In this study, we focused our effort on 1 cave with 2 sampling periods, representing the 2 seasons each year (wet and dry seasons). In the study by Guerrero & Morales-Malacara (1996), who sampled caves around central and southern Mexico, they reported 23 streblid species on 109 bats. Lira-Olguín et al. (2015) carried out a study for 8 days in Chiapas and recorded 7 streblid species on 34 bats captured in 4 caves, whereas Tlapaya-Romero et al. (2015) recorded 3 streblid species on 559 bats in 1 cave in Chiapas. The ratio between the number of bat species and the number of streblid species found in the above studies probably were affected by the sampling method and the season when sampling was done. Lira-Olguín et al. (2015) and Tlapaya-Romero et al. (2015) used a method similar to the one employed in this study, but the number of streblid species found was lower. Other factors that could affect the effectiveness of the sampling method could be related to the strategy of closing the mist nets during the periods of high bat activity, when the bat colonies leave or return to the refuge (17:30 and 18:30 and 04:00 and 05:00). This method helps prevent the mist nets from saturating quickly with bats, enabling workers to efficiently examine the captured bats. Of course, this sampling method has a negative impact on the number of bat specimens captured and examined, but for streblid samples it is probably much better, since it allows for carefully examination of the captured bats.
Another aspect of our sampling strategy included applying alcohol gel (antibacterial commercial gel) to the bats with a large number of streblids (more than 15 specimens), making difficult their mobility and loss during the extraction period. In spite of taking the appropriate precautions, 3 possible cases of contamination were detected on 3 host species: G. sorina, P. davyi, and P. parnellii harbored 1 specimen of T. parasiticus, T. diphyllae, and T. uniformis, respectively. We considered these to be cases of contamination because these streblids were abundant in other hosts: D. rotundus with 236 specimens of T. parasiticus and G. sorina with 257 specimens of T. diphyllae and 199 specimens of T. uniformis.
The streblid prevalence observed shows contrasting variation, ranging from 22.2% on M. megalophylla to 88.1% on P. parnellii. Similar differences have been previously observed in studies with different sampling periods, in different capture sites with different types of vegetation (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018; Cuxim-Koyoc et al., 2015, 2016), as well as in natural bat refuges (Lira-Olguín et al., 2015; Ramírez et al., 2016; Tlapaya-Romero et al., 2015). Other studies mention that high ectoparasite prevalence can be explained by the high abundance of captured bats (Colín-Martínez et al., 2018). However, our results apparently differ from that pattern. For instance, G. soricina, which was the best represented species with 438 individuals, presented the highest streblid richness (N = 6) and higher streblid prevalence (53.2%), whereas P. parnellii, with only 37 captured individuals, had a high streblid richness (N = 5) and the highest streblid prevalence (88.1%).
Cuxim-Koyoc et al. (2015) mentioned that streblid richness and prevalence per bat species are related to the roosting habits. This means that bats that use caves as diurnal resting sites will show high streblid prevalence. Nevertheless, our results do not agree with this idea, because M. megalophylla and P. davyi, which are strict gregarious cave inhabitants (Torres-Flores & López-Wilchis, 2010), were the 2 species with the lowest prevalence values (22.2% and 23.9%, respectivelly). Our results indicate that prevalence variation and number of streblid species is specific for each bat species, suggesting that the bat species abundance and type of roost are not the main contributing factors. An alternative explanation for streblid richness and prevalence variability per host could be related to complexity in the cave structure complexity, which affects air flow and the amount of light per area, creating different microhabitats (McNab, 1974; Torres-Flores & López-Wilchis, 2010). However, this only can be confirmed after the microclimatic conditions per perching site inside the caves are assessed.
Our results show that an important streblid richness exists in the state of Oaxaca, comprising 49% of the Mexican streblid species, which were found in 16.1% of the total number of bat species found in the state. This study also highlights the importance of conducting systematic and periodic sampling in small areas to obtain robust data for analysis of community ecology.