The first data on the infestation of the parti-coloured bat, Vespertilio murinus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), with gamasid mites, Steatonyssus spinosus (Mesostigmata, Gamasina, Macronyssidae)

• Published in: Russian Journal of Theriology
• Main Authors: Orlova, M. V., Kazakov, D. V., Orlov, O. L., Mishchenko, V. A., Zhigalin, A. V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: K M K Scientific Press Ltd 2017
• Subjects: BAT ECTOPARASITES; GAMASID MITES; PARTI-COLOURED BAT; STEATONYSSUS SPINOSUS; Vespertilio murinus; Mite
• Online Access: http://elar.urfu.ru/handle/10995/75696; https://doi.org/10.15298/rusjtheriol.16.1.06; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=8YFLogxK&scp=85021731540

This article presents one of the very few records of a macronyssid mite (Mesostigmata, Gamasina, Macronyssidae) infestation of vesper bats (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae). It is the first report of the influence of host parameters on the infestation of the parti-coloured bat, Vespertilio murinus, by the mite Steatonyssus spinosus. It has been shown that the infestation varies considerably throughout the host's occupation of summer roosts and the highest infestation was observed in the post-lactation period. Female bats are infested significantly more intensively than male bats due to changes in their immune status during pregnancy and lactation. The infestation decreases in the period when the breeding colony disbands due to both roost switching and the intensification of grooming during this period. © Russian Journal Of Theriology, 2017.