Seasonal reproduction and host infestation rates for nycteribiids of the large bentwing bat

Abstract

Large numbers of the nycteribiid species Nycteribia parilis vicaria Maa, Penicillidia (Penicillidia) oceanica Bigot and Penicillidia (Penicillidia) Maa (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) were collected from the bat Miniopterus schreibersii Kuhl (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) during a study on this bat's population genetics conducted largely in southern Australia. Bats were trapped in all seasons and at a number of locations throughout the ranges of the nycteribiids. Nycteribia parilis vicaria was the most common species captured. Gravid females of the three species were trapped in spring and summer and gravid female P. (P.) oceanica and N. parilis vicaria were trapped in autumn. Newly emerged adults of P. (P.) oceanica and N. parilis vicaria were captured in spring and autumn. Nycteribiid loads for individual bats were low, and there was no direct evidence of a detrimental effect on bats.