Bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) of Phyllostominae and Stenodermatinae (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) bats from cocoa and natural areas of Amazonia

Abstract

Streblidae and Nycteribiidae are ectoparasitic flies exclusive to bats, with an estimated diversity of over 100 species in Brazil. Its distribution and abundance may be influenced by host’s shelter, geographic distribution, behavior, and size. Bat species respond differently to environmental changes, such as changing land use and land cover for cocoa production in the eastern Amazon. We sought to investigate the community of ectoparasite flies (Diptera: Streblidae) on Phyllostominae and Stenodermatinae (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) bats and the parasite-host interactions in cacao plantations and natural areas in the Brazilian Amazon. Twenty-two bats were collected, reaching a total of 54 flies. The observed richness was 15 (estimated in 24) species, with Trichobius dugesioides being the most abundant. The cacao plantations showed greater richness, eight species more than the natural ones, however, showing the absence of a specific distribution pattern for each area. This result may be because human interference in cocoa areas are barely perceptible, at least for the bats studied. In addition, the adoption of cabruca-type cocoa plantations can influence the result, as previously shown in the literature.