Behavioural defence against ectoparasites in bats: Habitat selection and grooming behaviour in relation to batfly and mite abundance

The purpose of this study was to determine if bats demonstrate behavioural defences against ectoparasitic batflies (families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae) and mites (order Acarina) through habitat selection, in the form of roosting preferences, and grooming behaviour. From April to August 2001, bats were captured in mistnets in the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, Belize, and all visible ectoparasites were collected. Grooming behaviour for 7 bat species was analyzed and roosting information was obtained from the literature for 9 most frequently caught bat species. Most bat species had batflies (25 of 32) and mites (26 of 32), but only 4 had ticks. Most batfly species (29 of 30) demonstrated host-site specificity and morphological adaptations for either fur or membrane on the bat host. For 2 bat species, Artibeus jamaicensis and Sturnira lilium, mean batfly and mite abundance were highest for subadults and usually lowest for adult males. Grooming behaviour consisted mostly of scratching the fur with the hind claws, chewing the hind claws, and licking the wings. Correspondence analysis revealed that bats tended to alternate between chewing and scratching, whereas licking was sequentially distinct from these activities. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)