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Leg structure explains host site preference in bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) parasitizing neotropical bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2018

Thomas Hiller ,
Benjamin Honner ,
Rachel A. Page  and
Marco Tschapka
Thomas Hiller*
Affiliation:
Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm 89081, Germany Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Panamá
Benjamin Honner
Affiliation:
Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm 89081, Germany
Rachel A. Page
Affiliation:
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Panamá
Marco Tschapka
Affiliation:
Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm 89081, Germany Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Panamá
*
Author for correspondence: Thomas Hiller, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Bat flies (Streblidae) are diverse, obligate blood-feeding insects and probably the most conspicuous ectoparasites of bats. They show preferences for specific body regions on their host bat, which are reflected in behavioural characteristics. In this study, we corroborate the categorization of bat flies into three ecomorphological groups, focusing only on differences in hind leg morphology. As no detailed phylogeny of bat flies is available, it remains uncertain whether these morphological differences reflect the evolutionary history of bat flies or show convergent adaptations for the host habitat type. We show that the division of the host bat into three distinct habitats contributes to the avoidance of interspecific competition of bat fly species. Finally, we found evidence for density-dependent competition between species belonging to the same ecomorphological group.

Keywords

Bat fliesco-occurrenceecomorphologyparasite interactionsphyllostomidae
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 145 , Issue 11 , September 2018 , pp. 1475 - 1482
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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