Ectoparasites (Insecta and Acari) Associated with Bats in South and South-Western Caves of Iran

Abstract

This paper presents a part of the study conducted on cave fauna in Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad and Fars provinces, South West and South of Iran. Eleven caves were investigated and seven species of bats were examined for identifying the ectoparasites. We found six species of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and four mites (Acari: Spinturnicidae and Macronyssidae), eight species of Nycteribiidae and two Strelibidae (Diptera: Insecta) as ectoparasites of bats. Two species of ticks and mites; Ixodes simplex (Ixodidae) and Macronyssus granulosus (Macronyssidae) were recorded for the first time from Iran. The threats from such ectoparasites have been discussed.