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In the Diptera order, there are two families that are obligatory parasites of bats: Streblidae and Nycteribiidae. These flies have a viviparous adenotrophic reproduction cycle and are highly dependent on roost fidelity. Studies investigating parasite-host association patterns for these groups have gained momentum and are important because bats are animals that provide significant ecological services to the environment and are sensitive to habitat alterations, which can influence the parasitism cycle. Despite the great diversity of bat species in the Amazon, little is known about the parasitic association patterns of these groups. Therefore, we aim to expand knowledge about the parasite-host relationships and parasitic indices values between bats and flies, as well as describe the Streblidae and Chiroptera communities in forest remnants within the urban perimeter of the municipality of Altamira, PA. Bats were sampled from three urban fragments within the municipality between August 2018 and July 2019. A total of 465 bat specimens and 629 ectoparasitic flies, all belonging to the Streblidae family, were sampled. Among the found infracommunities, the most frequent was Trichobius dugesioides on Carollia perspicilata, which also had the highest prevalence. There was no difference in infestation intensity values between the collection points, possibly due to similar anthropogenic influences on the environments, resulting in roost infidelity and influencing the specificity results. We found that 65% of the flies were considered nonspecific parasites, while only 25% were considered monoxenous, and Megistopoda proxima was considered oligoxenous for the genus Artibeus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats harbor diverse intracellular Bartonella bacteria, but there is limited understanding of the factors that influence transmission over time. Investigation of Bartonella dynamics in bats could reveal general factors that control transmission of multiple bat-borne pathogens, including viruses. We used molecular methods to detect Bartonella DNA in paired bat (Pteropus medius) blood and bat flies in the family Nycteribiidae collected from a roost in Faridpur, Bangladesh between September 2020 and January 2021. We detected high prevalence of Bartonella DNA in bat blood (35/55, 64%) and bat flies (59/60, 98%), with sequences grouping into three phylogenetic clades. Prevalence in bat blood increased over the study period (33% to 90%), reflecting an influx of juvenile bats in the population and an increase in the prevalence of bat flies. Discordance between infection status and the clade/genotype of detected Bartonella was also observed in pairs of bats and their flies, providing evidence that bat flies take blood meals from multiple bat hosts. This evidence of bat fly transfer between hosts and the changes in Bartonella prevalence during a period of increasing nycteribiid density support the role of bat flies as vectors of bartonellae. The study provides novel information on comparative prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella in pteropodid bats and their ectoparasites, as well as demographic factors that affect Bartonella transmission and potentially other bat-borne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sheep ked Melophagus ovinus (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Lipopteninae), an ectoparasite of the domestic sheep Ovis aries (Artiodactyla: Bovidae: Caprinae), was recorded for the first time in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. This dipteran has a cosmopolitan distribution, likely found wherever its preferred host is present. Records of this parasite in Mexico are scarce and dispersed throughout the literature.

The Nycteribiidae is a group of ectoparasitic and hematophagous flies associated with bats and barely known in Colombia. The revision of previously collected material and additional fieldwork through various regions in Colombia let us to identify various fly species and their associated bats. Particularly, this is the first record of the species Basilia tiptoni Guimarães, 1966, for Colombia, collected on the bat Gardnerycteris keenani (Handley, 1960) (Mammalia: Chiroptera), from the Antioquia and Sucre departments. Additionally, and as a new geographic and host record, the species Basilia ferrisi Schuurmans Stekhoven, Jr., 1931 was found on the bat Eptesicus brasiliensis (Desmarest, 1819) from the Sucre department.

The current biogeographic knowledge of Streblidae remains poor. We report a species inventory, host association, ranges, and probable relevance as vectors of pathogens in bats from a botanical garden in a region of northeastern Puebla, Mexico. Additionally, we report new streblids for Puebla including: Aspidoptera phyllostomatis, Aspidoptera delatorrei, Metelasmus pseudopterus, Megistopoda proxima, Paratrichobius longicrus, Speiseria ambigua, Strebla curvata, Strebla guajiro, Trichobius dugesii, and Trichobius joblingi. Highly diverse urban botanical gardens such as this help to maintain biodiversity where natural vegetation and domestic plants are mixed with different animal communities. Mixed vegetation provides a refuge and food for a wide range of wildlife, including bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Noctiliostrebla Wenzel (Diptera: Streblidae) stands out for its high degree of specificity exhibited in relation to bat species of the genus Noctilio Linnaeus and provides an exciting system for understanding the history behind host–parasite associations. Here, we present a phylogeny of Noctiliostrebla based on an analysis of DNA sequences and morphological characters, along with cophylogenetic and biogeographical analyses. Our results strongly support the monophyly of Noctiliostrebla , but with uncertainties within the genus. With a low frequency of cospeciation events explaining the associations between hosts and parasites, cophylogenetic analyses did not show an overall congruence between the host and parasite phylogenies. Indeed, two parallel histories were recovered in the host–parasite associations, which might indicate that niche segregation is determined evolutionarily, facilitating the coexistence of parasites and promoting diversification. Biogeographical analysis showed a strong spatial congruence between disjunct distributions of Noctiliostrebla and major river basins in South America and with areas of higher elevation, which might be associated with the glacial periods throughout the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Overall, our findings suggest an agreement with the expectations of the 'Stockholm paradigm' framework, in which biogeographical events and ecological factors act as important components to explain the associations, instead of cospeciation events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Ornithomya biloba (Dufour 1827) was first sequenced and annotated in this study as the first representative of the genus Ornithomya. The complete mitogenome is 18,654 bp in length and contains 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and control region). The phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs in IQ-TREE supports the monophyly of Hippoboscidae, which was a sister group of Streblidae. Families Hippoboscidae and Streblidae formed the monophyletic Hippoboscoidea clade.

Copyright of Agronomía Colombiana is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Skin is the largest mammalian organ and the first defensive barrier against the external environment. The skin and fur of mammals can host a wide variety of ectoparasites, many of which are phylogenetically diverse, specialized, and specifically adapted to their hosts. Among hematophagous dipteran parasites, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to serve as important attractants, leading parasites to compatible sources of blood meals. VOCs have been hypothesized to be mediated by host‐associated bacteria, which may thereby indirectly influence parasitism. Host‐associated bacteria may also influence parasitism directly, as has been observed in interactions between animal gut microbiota and malarial parasites. Hypotheses relating bacterial symbionts and eukaryotic parasitism have rarely been tested among humans and domestic animals, and to our knowledge have not been tested in wild vertebrates. In this study, we used Afrotropical bats, hematophagous ectoparasitic bat flies, and haemosporidian (malarial) parasites vectored by bat flies as a model to test the hypothesis that the vertebrate host microbiome is linked to parasitism in a wild system. We identified significant correlations between bacterial community composition of the skin and dipteran ectoparasite prevalence across four major bat lineages, as well as striking differences in skin microbial network characteristics between ectoparasitized and nonectoparasitized bats. We also identified links between the oral microbiome and presence of malarial parasites among miniopterid bats. Our results support the hypothesis that microbial symbionts may serve as indirect mediators of parasitism among eukaryotic hosts and parasites. see also the Perspective by Kelly A. Speer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the relationship between host species and ectoparasites are limited on small oceanic islands such as the Philippine archipelago, particularly between bat species and their associated ectoparasites. Prior to our study, only a single bat fly species (Leptocyclopodia simulans), a wingless species in the family Nycteribiidae, was reported on Bohol Island located in the central Philippines. We report additional records of nycteribiid bat fly species collected from cave-dwelling bats on Bohol Island. We also report the first records of winged bat flies in the family Streblidae as well as new distribution records for Brachytarsina amboinensis, B. cucullata, B. werneri, Megastrebla parvior, Raymondia pagodarum, R. pseudopagodarum, Eucampsipoda inermis, E. sundaica, Nycteribia allotopa, N. allotopoides, N. parvula, and Penicillidia acuminata on Bohol Island. In addition to documenting new distribution records of nycteribiid and streblid bat flies in the Philippines, we also report new host records for some bat fly species. This includes the first record of B. amboinensis collected on Taphozous melanopogon (Black-bearded tomb bat), B. werneri on Miniopterus tristis (Great bent-winged bat), and R. pagodarum on Hipposideros pygmaeus (Philippine pygmy roundleaf bat). Our study highlights the undocumented relationships that exist between bats and bat flies, and warrants further investigation particularly in understudied island systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Family Streblidae is represented by 246 species distributed worldwide. In order to contribute to the knowledge of streblid richness in Mexico, we recorded the associations between Streblidae and the New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) collected in different caves in Mexico. For each streblid species their geographical and host spectrum is reported, and diagnostic characters are illustrated. Twenty-nine caves from six Mexican states were sampled. A total of 86 bats were collected belonging to eight genera and 11 species and from these a total of 297 streblid specimens of 14 species and five genera were collected. This study updates the knowledge of streblid diversity in Mexican cave habitats providing high resolution images of external anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing anthropization is detrimental to the natural environment and the quality of life, affecting populations, communities, and the relationships between organisms. One of the most unique relationships in the animal world is parasitism, which often involves tightly specialized interactions between pairs of species. Bat flies, for example, are obligate ectoparasites represented by two highly adapted dipteran families that usually parasite a single bat species or genus. Recent studies have shown that bat flies could carry pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, transmitting them among bat individuals in a colony. Because host roost characteristics can influence bat-fly parasitism, we aimed to assess whether the ecological networks between parasites and their host bats are influenced by the degree of habitat anthropization. Our hypothesis was that bat-fly interaction networks would be less specialized and more nested in highly anthropized sites. We collected bat fly individuals from bats captured at 21 sampling sites located in the Federal District of Brazil and quantified the amount of natural and anthropized area within a 3-km buffer from the sampling site. Areas consisting of agriculture, construction, mining, roads, or any man-made structure were considered anthropized. Sites presented different degrees of anthropization, with areas ranging from 100% anthropized to areas retaining full natural cover. We built bat-bat fly networks for each of the sites and excluded those with sampling completeness values smaller than 0.7. We calculated key weighted structural metrics for each network, such as nestedness, specialization, and modularity. The effect of the reduction in natural cover on structural metrics was assessed through GLMMs, controlling for network size and ectoparasite diversity. Nestedness increased with the amount of anthropization, while specialization and modularity did not change and were overall high in all networks. This result suggests that anthropization may influence the assembly of bat-bat fly networks, leading to the emergence of a hierarchical assembly of interactions as parasites become less specialized and interact with a wider variety of hosts. Less specialized relationships could influence parasite fitness or even increase the likelihood of transmitting pathogens between populations of different bat species.

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Ornithomya biloba (Dufour 1827) was first sequenced and annotated in this study as the first representative of the genus Ornithomya. The complete mitogenome is 18,654 bp in length and contains 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and control region). The phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs in IQ-TREE supports the monophyly of Hippoboscidae, which was a sister group of Streblidae. Families Hippoboscidae and Streblidae formed the monophyletic Hippoboscoidea clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bartonella is a genus of emerging zoonotic bacteria that are mainly associated with mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells. Bats are natural reservoirs for a variety of important pathogens that impact human and animal health. Recent reports have highlighted the role of bats and bat flies in the maintenance of Bartonella. Here, we showed that none of the 29 bat DNA blood samples obtained from five bat species in São Luís Island, state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil, were positive for Bartonella in qPCR assays targeting nuoG. On the other hand, three out of 15 DNA samples (20%) from flies in the family Streblidae were positive for Bartonella. The BLASTn results showed that the gltA and rpoB sequences shared identities ranging from 97.2% to 100%, with Bartonella sequences amplified from bats or bat flies from Costa Rica and Brazil. These findings were supported by phylogenetic analyses based on Bayesian inferences. The present study showed that Bartonella genotypes are present in bat flies, thus shedding some light on the distribution of bat fly-related Bartonella genotypes in South America.

The Dipteran family Streblidae are ectoparasites of bats. These flies are viviparous and have an intrauterine larval life phase, a free-living sessile puparium phase and the adult obligate parasite. Here we describe the external morphology of the puparium of Aspidoptera phyllostomatis (Perty, 1833), Megistopoda aranea (Coquillett, 1899), M. proxima (Séguy, 1826), Noctiliostrebla morena Alcantara et al., 2019, Paradyschiria parvula Falcoz, 1931, Strebla consocia Wenzel, 1966, Trichobius joblingi Wenzel, 1966 and T. longipes (Rudow, 1871) and provide an identification key. We also describe the method we developed for collecting the puparia, which was done between April 2015 and August 2016. The characters that most differentiated the species were spiracles and ornaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome (15,573 bp) of an understudied sheep parasite Melophagus ovinus was sequenced and characterized. Its organization and characteristics, including the size, structure, gene order, start/stop codon usage and gene overlaps, are largely typical for Diptera. It exhibits very high A + T bias (81%). Posterior probability values in the inferred phylogenetic dendrogram were very high, but Oestroidea and Muscoidea superfamilies were both paraphyletic. The sequence was nested within the Oestridae clade, thus also rendering the family paraphyletic. A larger number of Hippoboscoidea mitogenomes will have to be available to achieve a better phylogenetic resolution.

Bat flies (Hippoboscoidea: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of bats. We collected streblid bat flies from the New World (México) and the Old World (Uganda), and used metagenomics to identify their viruses. In México, we found méjal virus (Rhabdoviridae; Vesiculovirus), Amate virus (Reoviridae: Orbivirus), and two unclassified viruses of invertebrates. Méjal virus is related to emerging zoonotic encephalitis viruses and to the agriculturally important vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSV). Amate virus and its sister taxon from a bat are most closely related to mosquito- and tick-borne orbiviruses, suggesting a previously unrecognized orbivirus transmission cycle involving bats and bat flies. In Uganda, we found mamucuso virus (Peribunyaviridae: Orthobunyavirus) and two unclassified viruses (a rhabdovirus and an invertebrate virus). Mamucuso virus is related to encephalitic viruses of mammals and to viruses from nycteribiid bat flies and louse flies, suggesting a previously unrecognized orthobunyavirus transmission cycle involving hippoboscoid insects. Bat fly virus transmission may be neither strictly vector-borne nor strictly vertical, with opportunistic feeding by bat flies occasionally leading to zoonotic transmission. Many “bat-associated” viruses, which are ecologically and epidemiologically associated with bats but rarely or never found in bats themselves, may actually be viruses of bat flies or other bat ectoparasites.

Diptera belonging to the families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae are hematophagous ectoparasites, exclusively of bats. The Amapá State is located in the North Region of Brazil. The Amapá represents one of with the lowest rates of deforestation in the country, with approximately 80% of the territory preserved. Within the State, there are conservation units, Floresta Nacional do Amapá (FNA), Parque Nacional Montanhas do Tumucumaque (PNMT) and Reserva de desenvolvimento Sustentável do Rio Iratapurú (RDSI). These areas represent priority areas for the Conservation of Amazonian Biodiversity. Recently in Amapá studied on the diversity and distribution of bats, however, there are no records of associated arthropod ectoparasites. Therefore, the objective was to describe the pattern of association of Nycteribiidae and Streblidae species on bats in three protected areas of Amapá. Bats were collected through mist nets, where each host had its body visually revised and the Diptera collected were identified through a specific bibliography. One thousand and eighty-six individuals of bats flies were identified, distributed in 52 species (Streblidae = 49 and Nycteribiidae = three). Among the three infracommunities, the PNMT infracommunities was the largest found with abundance and richness of bats flies. All species found, represent new occurrences for the Amapá, being these, 18 new records for the North Region and seven new records for Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thoracic skeletomuscular system of the swift lousefly Crataerina pallida (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is documented with scanning electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction. The morphological results are discussed with respect to ectoparasitism and flightlessness. The evolution of thoracic characters in Hippoboscoidea is reconstructed based on a parsimony analysis of 44 thoracic characters. The results confirm the monophyly of Hippoboscoidea, Pupipara (Hippoboscidae + Streblidae + Nycteribiidae) and the bat flies (Streblidae + Nycteribiidae). The monophyletic origin of Hippoboscidae is challenged with respect to the genus Ornithoica, which displays several plesiomorphic features compared with conditions shared by the remaining Pupipara. The thorax of the species in the three families is distinctly affected by the ectoparasitic lifestyle. The dorsal segmental borders are obliterated, and the thorax is usually strongly flattened. The legs are adapted to cling to the host and to move efficiently in the fur or plumage. A heel-like claw tooth supports large claws. Different patterns of reduction of the flight apparatus occur in the group. Even though Crataerina and Stenepteryx are close relatives and similar in their general thoracic configuration, differences in the muscular patterning suggest independent losses of the capacity for flight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the global pandemic of bat-associated pathogens has led to increasing attention on bat ectoparasites. Numerous studies have identified human-associated pathogens in Nycteribiidae, indicating their potential as vectors. In this study, the first complete sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of Nycteribia allotopa Speiser, 1901 was sequenced and analyzed. We also compared the mitochondrial sequences of N. allotopa with those available in the database for other Nycteribiidae species. The complete mitochondrial genome of N. allotopa was found to be 15,161 bp in size with an A + T content of 82.49%. Nucleotide polymorphism analysis of 13 protein-coding genes from five species of Nycteribiidae showed that nad6 exhibited the most significant variation, while cox1 was the most conserved. Furthermore, selection pressure analysis revealed cox1 to exhibit the strongest purifying selection, while atp8, nad2 , nad4L , and nad5 showed slightly looser purifying selection. Pairwise genetic distances indicated that cox1 and cox2 were evolving comparatively slowly, whereas atp8 , nad2 , and nad6 were evolving comparatively quickly. Phylogenetic trees constructed using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods demonstrated that all four families within the superfamily Hippoboscoidea clustered into one branch each, indicating their monophyly. N. allotopa was found to be most closely related to the same genus N. parvula. This study significantly enriches the molecular database for Nycteribiidae and provides invaluable reference data for future species identification, phylogenetic analysis, and exploration of their potential as vectors for human-associated pathogens. [Display omitted] • The mitochondrial genome of Nycteribia allotopa was sequenced for the first time. • The genome were analyzed and compared with other genome of the family Nycteribiidae. • The phylogenetic relationships of the Hippoboscoidea have been further defined. • It provides a reference for phylogeny and species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on bats (Chiroptera) are among the most taxonomically diverse groups of mammals. Topics include the arthropod ectoparasites of bats are likewise diverse with a wide range of ticks, mites, true bugs, and true flies forming species-specific host-parasite relationships, and the studies on bats are far from homogeneous over diverse geographic distributions known as distribution of their ectoparasites are often patchy and discontinuous.

We assessed the relationship between bat fly parasitism and habitat degradation. We used mist nets to capture 522 individuals of Carollia perspicillata and 429 individuals from eight fly species in the Brazilian Cerrado. Specimens were captured in degraded areas surrounding protected areas and within the protected areas. Trichobius joblingi was the most frequent parasite of Carollia perspicillata; consequently, it was analyzed in greater detail. Sex and age were not critical factors for parasitism. A robust anthropogenic influence was observed; unexpectedly, a higher prevalence and abundance of bat flies were observed in preserved areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Brazil. Our record in Pará state is 2,200 km SE from the nearest record and ends a 41-year hiatus with no records since the original description of the species in Venezuela. The collected specimens (1 male and 1 female) were found parasitizing a female of Peropteryx kappleri Peters, 1867 (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae). Host specificity and the reasons for such a temporal gap between records are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We described infracommunities, prevalence and mean intensity of infestation of ecotoparasite flies (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) on bats in an ecotone area of Cerrado as predominant vegetation, with influence of Atlantic Forest, in the southeast of Mato Grosso do Sul. In 36 sampling nights between April 2015 and August 2016 (23,328 m².h), we captured 17 bat species, of which ten were infested, and 14 species of fly. The most abundant bats were the phyllostomids Artibeus planirostris (Spix, 1823), Glossophaga soricina (Pallas, 1776) and Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) and the most abundant flies were the streblids Trichobius longipes (Rudow, 1871), T. joblingi Wenzel, 1966 and Megistopoda aranea (Coquillett, 1899). Phyllostomus hastatus (Pallas, 1767) was the bat species that presented the highest infestation rate. Platyrrhinus lineatus (É. Geoffroy, 1810) and Desmodus rotundus (É. Geoffroy, 1810) were not infested. Besides that, the frequency of bats that were infested by a single species of fly was higher than the frequency of bats infested for two or more, and it may be a pattern.

Copyright of Iheringia. Série Zoologia is the property of Fundacao Zoobotanica do Rio Grande do Sul and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A survey of bat flies was carried out in the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) in the Goiás state, Brazil. We collected 227 specimens of seventeen species belonging to nine genera of Streblidae and seven specimens of four species of Basilia Miranda-Ribeiro, 1903 (Nycteribiidae). Except for Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1907) (Streblidae), all species are new recorded in Goiás.Realizamos um levantamento dos ectoparasitas em uma taxocenose de morcegos em uma área de Cerrado no Brasil central, em Goiás. Nós coletamos 227 espécimes de 17 táxons de nove gêneros de Streblidae e sete indivíduos de quatro espécies de Basilia (Nycteribiidae). Excetuando-se Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1907) (Streblidae), todas demais espécies são novos registros para o estado de Goiás.

The complete mitochondrial genome (15,573 bp) of an understudied sheep parasiteMelophagus ovinuswas sequenced and characterized. Its organization and characteristics, including the size, structure, gene order, start/stop codon usage and gene overlaps, are largely typical for Diptera. It exhibits very high A + T bias (81%). Posterior probability values in the inferred phylogenetic dendrogram were very high, but Oestroidea and Muscoidea superfamilies were both paraphyletic. The sequence was nested within the Oestridae clade, thus also rendering the family paraphyletic. A larger number of Hippoboscoidea mitogenomes will have to be available to achieve a better phylogenetic resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A survey of the Streblidae batflies on the phyllostomid bats was conducted in the northeastern Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, during 1997. Hundred thirty three streblids were collected on 44 parasited hosts. Eleven species of batflies (Trichobius dugesii Townsend, 1891, T. tiptoni Wenzel, 1976, Trichobius sp., Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda Ribeiro, 1907), Megistopoda aranea (Coquillett, 1899), M. proxima (Séguy, 1926), Exastinion clovisi (Pessoa & Guimarães, 1936), Paraeuctenodes longipes Pessoa & Guimarães, 1936, Anastrebla modestini Wenzel, 1966, A. caudiferae Wenzel, 1976 and Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, 1907) were found on six species of phyllostomid bats (Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818), A. fimbriatus Gray, 1838, Sturnira lilium (E. Geoffroy, 1810), Glossophaga soricina (Pallas, 1766), Anoura caudifera (E. Geoffroy, 1818) and A. geoffroyi Gray, 1838). All records are new for the Rio Grande do Sul and Anastrebla caudiferae is firstly recorded in Brazil. Differences in the batflies community composition in Artibeus fimbriatus and A. lituratus are discussed.

Here we record the occurrence of 38 species, including 30 species of Streblidae and eight species of Nycteribiidae. Of these, 12 are new records for the Distrito Federal, three are new for the Cerrado, and one, Trichobius johnsonae Wenzel, 1966 is the first record from Brazil. We also recorded a yet undescribed species of Basilia from the district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An updated checklist of the superfamilies Oestroidea and Hippoboscoidea recorded from Finland is presented. The checklist covers the following families: Calliphoridae, Rhiniidae, Sarcophagidae, Rhinophoridae, Tachinidae, Oestridae and Hippoboscidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hippoboscoidea is a superfamily of Diptera that contains the Glossinidae or tsetse flies, the Hippoboscidae or louse flies, and two families of bat flies, the Streblidae and the Nycteribiidae. We reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships within Hippoboscoidea using maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods based on nucleotide sequences from fragments of four genes: nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA and the CPSase domain of CAD, and mitochondrial 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase I. We recover monophyly for most of the presently recognized groups within Hippoboscoidea including the superfamily as a whole, the Hippoboscidae, the Nycteribiidae, the bat flies, and the Pupipara (=Hippoboscidae+Nycteribiidae+Streblidae), as well as several subfamilies within the constituent families. Streblidae appear to be paraphyletic. Our phylogenetic hypothesis is well supported and decisive in that most competing topological hypotheses for the Hippoboscoidea require significantly longer trees. We confirm a single shift from a free-living fly to a blood-feeding ectoparasite of vertebrates and demonstrate that at least two host shifts from mammals to birds have occurred. Wings have been repeatedly lost, but never regained. The hippoboscoid ancestor also evolved adenotrophic viviparity and our cladogram is consistent with a gradual reduction in the motility of the deposited final instar larvae from active burrowing in the soil to true pupiparity where adult females glue the puparium within the confines of bat roosts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This is the first report of Arsenophonus- and Photorhabdus-type bacteria from Streblidae (bat flies) and Hippoboscidae (louse flies, keds). Strains were detected by means of polymerase chain reaction of 16S rDNA, and phylogenetic analysis determined the relationship of the obtained sequences to previously reported sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis by means of maximum parsimony revealed that all isolated Arsenophonus spp. 16S rDNA sequences formed a monophyletic sub-clade within other insect Arsenophonus spp., while the Photorhabdus spp. sequences are part of a monophyletic clade including Photorhabdus spp., Xenorhabdus spp. and Proteus spp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]