Contribution to the ectoparasite fauna of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae) of Crimea

New data are presented on the ectoparasite fauna of several species of vesper and horseshoe bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae) of the Crimean Peninsula. In the studied territory, 11 species of ectoparasites (mites and insects) have been collected from 6 bat species; 2 of the ectoparasite species were new to Crimea. Findings of gamasid mites Ichoronyssus scutatus on an unusual host are discussed. The gamasid mite Spinturnix emarginatus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina) is described for the territory of Russia for the first time

Attempt to define the complexes of bat ectoparasites in the boreal palaearctic region

Attempt to Defi ne the Complexes of Bat Ectoparasites in the Boreal Palaearctic Region. Orlova, M. V., Orlov, O. L. — Th e article presents the most complete data on the distribution of ectoparasites in the boreal Palaearctics (gamasid mites of the genera Spinturnix, Macronyssus, and Steatonyssus, bat fl ies of the family Nycteribiidae, fl eas of the family Ischnopsyllidae) and its preferences for the hosts. On the basis of these data as well as the data for the resettlement of bats in Eurasia 30 species of boreal bat ectoparasites combined into three faunal complexes (Transpalaearctic, European-Ural and Siberian-Far East) and two groups (European-Ural species, penetrating to the east and Siberian-Far East, penetrating to the west). Th e boundary between the European-Ural and Siberian-Far East faunal complexes is situated presumably along the Irtysh River. Th e resulting zoning provides a new look at the parasitocenosis of ectoparasites in the taiga zone of the Palaearctics

An unusual finding of a parasitic gamasid mite Macronyssus heteromorphus Dusbábek, Radovsky, 1972 (Mesostigmata: Gamasina: Macronyssidae) in the Trans-Urals

We present the first record of Macronyssus heteromorphus Dusbábek et Radovsky, 1972 (Mesostigmata: Gamasina: Macronyssidae) in the Trans-Urals. Our record is located 1,500 km northwest from the nearest site of this species’ previous record. The collected specimen (male) was found parasitizing a female of Myotis brandtii (Eversmann, 1845) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). The records of both Macronyssus heteromorphus and its host species are the first ones in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area. In this article, we present the measurements of this species for the first time, including the measurements that were omitted from the first description of this mite. Our finding also points to the existence of an area where Myotis brandtii and Myotis sibiricus Kastschenko, 1905 are sympatric

A review of mites and ticks parasitizing rock lizards (Lacertidae: Darevskia)

Rock lizards of the genus Darevskia are interesting research models due to their asexual reproduction. Ectoparasitic mites and ticks of these lizards are poorly known, despite some of these chelicerates being vector pathogens of humans and wildlife. Here we document and curate previously known data on ectoparasitic Acari of rock lizards and, based on our extensive survey, provide an annotated list of these ectoparasitic arthropods (six tick species, one macronyssid species, and seven chigger species). We also provide new host records (Ixodes ricinus on Darevskia caucasica, D. dryada, D. mixta, and D. szczerbaki; Haemaphysalis sulcata on D. rudis; Odontacarus saxicolis on D. brauneri); and new geographical records (O. saxicolis in Russia and Georgia)

Peculiarities of the seasonal biology of ectoparasites of the Genus Spinturnix von Heyden, 1826 (Mesostigmata: Gamasina: Spinturnicidae) in the boreal zone of the Palearctic region

The most complete data on the peculiarities of seasonal biology of gamasid mites of the genus Spinturnix, which are ectoparasites of bats of the boreal zone of the Old World, are presented. Data on the dynamics of the sex and age structure of superpopulations of parasites throughout the year are presented; the infestation of various bat species is analyzed, and the factors affecting it are discussed. The main differences between the life cycles of the boreal and subboreal Spinturnicidae mites were revealed

Some factors behind density dynamics of bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) ectoparasites of the boreal chiropterans: omitted predictors and hurdle model identification

We investigated density dynamics of three bat flies species (Diptera, Nycteribiidae): Penicillidia monoceros Speiser, 1900, Nycteribia quasiocellata (Theodor, 1966), Basilia rybini (Hurka, 1969) parasitized on two host species: pond bat, Myotis dasycneme (Boie, 1825), and eastern water bat, Myotis petax Hollister, 1912. Females of M. dasycneme have 3.4 (95 % CI 1.4–8.3) times higher odds of being infested, and in 2.4 (1.5–3.7) times higher average number of P. monoceros than males. Similarly, females of M. petax have 1.7 (1.2–2.4) times higher density of N. quasiocellata and/or B. rybini. We hypothesized an existence of host-sex-recognition mechanism in bat flies, providing it fine “ecological profit” due to sex-biased dispersal among adult host during wintering and the chance to infested a host offspring later (in summer). The decrease (due to mortality or emigration) in density of bat flies can be described as simple harmonic or S-shaped curve, and its “step” apparently corresponds to time of host pairing

Three new bat ectoparasite species of the genus Macronyssus from Western Siberia (with an identification key for females of the genus Macronyssus from the Palearctic boreal zone)

Three new gamasid mite species belonging to the genus Macronyssus Kolenati, 1858 (Acari: Macronyssidae), namely, Macronyssus sibiricus n. sp., Macronyssus stanyukovichi n. sp., and Macronyssus tigirecus n. sp., are described (females only; males, protonymphs, and larvae remain unknown). All species are known from Western Siberia and belong to the Siberian–Far Eastern bat ectoparasite fauna complex. The parasite hosts are the eastern water bat Myotis petax Hollister, 1912, and Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bat Murina hilgendorfi Peters, 1880 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). An identification key for females of the genus Macronyssus Kolenati, 1858, in the boreal Palearctic region is presented

Three new bat ectoparasite species of the genus Macronyssus from Western Siberia (with an identification key for females of the genus Macronyssus from the Palearctic boreal zone)

Three new gamasid mite species belonging to the genus Macronyssus Kolenati, 1858 (Acari: Macronyssidae), namely, Macronyssus sibiricus n. sp., Macronyssus stanyukovichi n. sp., and Macronyssus tigirecus n. sp., are described (females only; males, protonymphs, and larvae remain unknown). All species are known from Western Siberia and belong to the Siberian–Far Eastern bat ectoparasite fauna complex. The parasite hosts are the eastern water bat Myotis petax Hollister, 1912, and Hilgendorf's tube-nosed bat Murina hilgendorfi Peters, 1880 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). An identification key for females of the genus Macronyssus Kolenati, 1858, in the boreal Palearctic region is presented

Attempt to define the complexes of bat ectoparasites in the boreal palaearctic region

Attempt to Defi ne the Complexes of Bat Ectoparasites in the Boreal Palaearctic Region. Orlova, M. V., Orlov, O. L. — Th e article presents the most complete data on the distribution of ectoparasites in the boreal Palaearctics (gamasid mites of the genera Spinturnix, Macronyssus, and Steatonyssus, bat fl ies of the family Nycteribiidae, fl eas of the family Ischnopsyllidae) and its preferences for the hosts. On the basis of these data as well as the data for the resettlement of bats in Eurasia 30 species of boreal bat ectoparasites combined into three faunal complexes (Transpalaearctic, European-Ural and Siberian-Far East) and two groups (European-Ural species, penetrating to the east and Siberian-Far East, penetrating to the west). Th e boundary between the European-Ural and Siberian-Far East faunal complexes is situated presumably along the Irtysh River. Th e resulting zoning provides a new look at the parasitocenosis of ectoparasites in the taiga zone of the Palaearctics