Bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) associated with phyllostomid bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in caves in Mexico

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.

Automated summary

This study documented the associations between Streblidae and New World leaf-nosed bats collected from different caves in Mexico, providing information on their geographical and host spectrum as well as diagnostic characters. A total of 297 streblid specimens belonging to 14 species and five genera were collected from 86 bats of eight genera and 11 species from 29 caves in six Mexican states, updating the knowledge of streblid diversity in Mexican cave habitats with high resolution images of external anatomy.