Bats, Bat Flies, and Fungi: A Case of Hyperparasitism

Danny Haelewaters; Thomas Hiller; Carl W Dick

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2018.06.006

Bats, Bat Flies, and Fungi: A Case of Hyperparasitism

Trends Parasitol. 2018 Sep;34(9):784-799. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.06.006.

Authors

Danny Haelewaters¹, Thomas Hiller², Carl W Dick³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama; Current affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia, České Budejovice, Czech Republic. Electronic address: danny.haelewaters@gmail.com.
² Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama; Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
³ Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, USA; Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA.

PMID: 30097262
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.06.006

Abstract

Bats are parasitized by numerous lineages of arthropods, of which bat flies (Diptera, Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are the most conspicuous. Bat flies themselves can be parasitized by Laboulbeniales, fungal biotrophs of arthropods. This is known as hyperparasitism, a severely understudied phenomenon. Three genera of Laboulbeniales occur on bat flies: Arthrorhynchus on Nycteribiidae, Gloeandromyces and Nycteromyces on Streblidae. In this review we introduce the parasitic partners in this tripartite system and discuss their diversity, ecology, and specificity patterns, alongside some important life history traits. Furthermore, we cover recent advances in the study of the associations between bat flies and Laboulbeniales, which were neglected for decades. Among the most immediate needs for further studies are detailed tripartite field surveys. The vermin only teaze and pinch Their foes superior by an inch So, naturalists observe, a flea Has smaller fleas that on him prey; And these have smaller still to bite 'em, And so proceed ad infinitum. Jonathan Swift (On Poetry: A Rhapsody, 1733).

Keywords: Chiroptera; Laboulbeniales; bat flies; ectoparasites; host specificity; tripartite interactions.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Ascomycota / physiology*
Biodiversity
Chiroptera / parasitology*
Diptera / microbiology*
Diptera / physiology*
Host Specificity