Mammal survey Pol'ana - De Zoogdiervereniging

3.3 ECTOPARASITES by: Jan Boshamer
During the workshop in Slovakia almost all bats that were captured were examined for parasites. Bats, mostly
the species that form large colonies in hollow trees and caves, appear to be visited by large quantities of
ectoparasites. During our 2004 workshop in Slovenia som experience has been gained with harvesting
parasites from bats. The goal of harvesting ectoparasites is to find out which species are present on bats,
which bats accommodate the most parasites, and to see if there is a difference in parasites found on bats
living in trees or living in caves. Also it is interesting to find out if the sex of the bats makes any difference in
the presence of parasites. For Peter Kaňuch the ectoparasites on Leisler’s bats were important. This species
forms an important part of his research on bat species living in woods in the vicinity of the Pol’ana district.
In the course of time a protocol has been established in which ectoparasites are collected. First the species,
the sex, the age and the sexual status of the bat are determined. After recording these findings the presence
of parasites is checked. Parasites are taken off with a pointed pair of tweezers and put in an Eppendorf filled
with alcohol. Especially the border of the ears, the fur and the wing membrane are checked.
The ectoparasites gathered were determined in Slovakia by two specialists requested by Peter Kaňuch: J.
Krištofík and P. Mašán are warmly thanked for their contribution in this research. In Table 3 you can find
which parasite species were found on each bat species. These parasites can be divided into two main
groups:
− Mites: genus Spinturnix, Steatonyssus, Macronyssus and Ornithonyssus.
− Batflies: genus Ischnopsyllus. These batflies are mostly present on the species that live in caves.
BAT BAT SPECIES SPECIES
GENDER GENDER DATE DATE ECTOPARASITE ECTOPARASITE SPECIES SPECIES
DETERMINATOR
DETERMINATOR
Barbastella barbastellus female lact. 28-07-2005 Spinturnix punctata 1M, 1F, 1N J. Krištofík
Plecotus auritus female lact. 13-07-2005 Spinturnix plecotinus 1F, 1N J. Krištofík
Barbastella barbastellus female lact. 05-08-2005 Spinturnix punctata 4N J. Krištofík
Plecotus austriacus female lact. 28-07-2005 Spinturnix plecotinus 2 N J. Krištofík
Myotis myotis male 28-07-2005 Spinturnix myoti 2MM, 1F, 3 N J. Krištofík
Eptesicus nilsonii female lact. 28-07-2005 Ischnopsyllus intermedius 1M J. Krištofík
Not recorded not recorded unknown Spinturnix kolenatii 1 M J. Krištofík
Eptesicus nilsonii female 30-07-2005 Spinturnix kolenati 7 FF J. Krištofík
Vespertilio murinus male 27-07-2005 Ischnopsyllus intermedius 1 M J. Krištofík
Eptesicus nilsonii female lact. 02-08-2005 Spinturnix kolenatii 1 M, 4 FF J. Krištofík
Myotis myotis not recorded 29-07-2005 Spinturnix myoti 2 FF J. Krištofík
Myotis daubentonii not recorded 02-08-2005 Spinturnix andegavinis 1 N J. Krištofík
Nyctalus leisleri not recorded 02-08-2005 Ischnopsyllus variabilis 1 F J. Krištofík
Barbastella barbastellus not recorded 31-07-2005 Spinturnix punctata 2 MM J. Krištofík
Myotis daubentonii not recorded 29-07-2005 Spinturnix andegavinus 3MM, 1 F, J. Krištofík
Myotis daubentonii not recorded 02-08-2005 Spinturnix andegavinus 1M, 2N J. Krištofík
Myotis myotis not recorded 29-07-2005 Spinturnix myoti 3FF J. Krištofík
Myotis myotis not recorded 29-07-2005 Spinturnix myoti 2 N J. Krištofík
Myotis myotis not recorded 28-07-2005 Spinturnix myoti 1 M, 3FF J. Krištofík
Myotis myotis not recorded 28-07-2005 Spinturnix myoti 3 FF J. Krištofík
Mypotis nattereri not recorded 28-07-2005 Spinturnix myoti 1 M, 1 F, 3N J. Krištofík
Barbastella barbastellus not recorded 28-07-2005 Spinturnix punctata 1M, 1 F J. Krištofík
Plecotus auritus not recorded 28-07-2005 Spinturnix plecotinus 1M J. Krištofík
Myotis myotis not recorded 28-07-2005 Spinturnix myoti 1 M, 1 F. 3 N J. Krištofík
Plecotus auritus not recorded 27-07-2005 Spinturnix plecotinus 1M J. Krištofík
Nyctalus leisleri not recorded 28-07-2005 Steatonyssus spinosus 1PN P. Mašán
Plecotus auritus not recorded 27-07 2005 Macronyssus flavus 1PN P. Mašán
Myotis myotis not recorded 28-07-2005 Macronyssus flavus 1PN P. Mašán
Nyctalus leisleri not recorded 29-07-2005 Macronyssus flavus 1 M, 1PN P. Mašán
Barbastella barbastellus not recorded 05-08-2005 Ornithonyssus pipistrelli 2 PN P. Mašán
Nyctalus leisleri not recorded 02-08-2005 Steatonyssus spinosus 1 F, 1PN P. Mašán
Nyctalus leisleri not recorded 30-07-2005 Steatonyssus spinotus 1F P. Mašán
Not recorded not recorded unknown Macronyssus flavus 1M, 1F P. Mašán
Nyctalus leisleri not recorded 30-07-2005 Macronyssus flavus 4 PN P. Mašán
Table 3. Ectoparasites found on (captivated) bats. PN=protonymph, N=nymph, M=male, F=female.
18 Dutch Mammal Society