New host and locality records for Ixodes simplex Neumann and Ixodes vespertilionis Koch (Acari: Ixodidae) from bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae, Rhinolophidae and Vespertilionidae) in southern China

Abstract

Between September 2004 and May 2007, 430 bats were examined for ectoparasites in southern China's Guizhou Province and Guangxi Autonomous Region. Ticks were found on 16 individuals from 6 bat species belonging to the families Hipposideridae, Rhinolophidae and Vespertilionidae. The tick Ixodes simplex Neumann was found on two species of vespertilionid bats, and Ixodes vespertilionis Koch was found on one species of hipposiderid and three species of rhinolophid bats. Five of the host records appear to be new, as are all the locality records for I. simplex in Guizhou Province and I. vespertilionis in the Guangxi Autonomous Region.

Keywords:

• Ixodes simplex
• Ixodes vespertilionis
• ectoparasite
• Chiroptera
• Guizhou Province
• Guangxi Autonomous Region
• China

Acknowledgements

We thank D. H. Clayton, J. Eger, B. Lim, A. T. Peterson and R. Brown for various forms of assistance. This work was supported by NSF grants DEB-0344430 and 0743491.