Juan B. Morales-Malacara

Two New Species of the Genus Periglischrus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae) on Two Bat Species of the Genus Tonatia (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Southeastern Mexico, with Additional Data from Panama

Abstract Two new species of spinturnicid mites of the genus Periglischrus are described and illustrated from phyllostomid bats from southeastern Mexico: The female, male, and protonymph of Periglischrus steresotrichus, new species, from Tonatia evotis Davis & Carter, and the female and male of Periglischrus eurysternus, new species, from Tonatia saurophila Koopman & Williams. A supplementary description of the male deutonymph of P. eurysternus from T. saurophila from Panama is given. The morphological features of the two new species of Periglischrus are used as a basis for discussing their phylogeny and its potential relationship to that of their hosts.

A New Species of the Genus Periglischrus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae) on Choeronycteris mexicana (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Central Mexico

Abstract Periglischrus leptosternus new species was found on the bat Choeronycteris mexicana in the central part of Mexico. The female, male, and protonymph are described and illustrated.

Class II DRB polymorphism and sequence diversity in two vesper bats in the genus Myotis

Almost no studies have been done with respect to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphism and sequence diversity in bats, although they account for one in five living mammalian species. We analysed MHC Class II DRB polymorphism and sequence diversity in two Mexican verpertilionid bat species, the widespread continental species Myotis velifer and the narrowly distributed (and endangered) island endemic Myotis vivesi. We find extensive DRB polymorphism in the widespread M. velifer, similar to that commonly reported in other mammals. The geographically restricted M. vivesi by contrast shows only very limited polymorphism. We conclude that M. vivesi has undergone a dramatic loss of MHC polymorphism. The significance of this inference in light of other information on population structure and genetic diversity in this species is discussed.

Parasites of Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from Arid Regions of Mexico

Abstract Ninety-eight Mexican free-tailed bats, Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana, collected from 4 locations in Mexico between November 1996 and June 1998, were examined for metazoan parasites. Twenty-one parasitic taxa belonging to 3 phyla (Plathyhelminthes, Nematoda, and Arthropoda) were recovered including 5 helminth taxa (3 digenean, 1 cestode, and 1 nematode) and 16 arthropod taxa (12 mite, 2 tick, and 2 insect). The digenean Ochoterenatrema labda was the most prevalent and abundant helminth in collections from the states of Puebla, Zacatecas, and Durango. Urotrema scabridum and Dicrocoelium rileyi reached the highest values of prevalence and mean abundance of infection in Nuevo León state. Among arthropod taxa recovered, Chiroptonyssus robustipes was the most prevalent and abundant parasite in all 4 localities, and its nymphal stage was the most abundant form recovered. In total, 10 new host and 43 locality records are presented.

A new species of Parichoronyssus (Acari: Dermanyssoidea: Macronyssidae) from bats of the genus Phyllostomus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Peru and Venezuela, with keys to the species of Parichoronyssus

Abstract Parichoronyssus bakeri new species was found on two phyllostomid bats species, the greater spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus hastatus (Pallas), and the lesser spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus elongatus (E. Geoffroy), in Pakitza, National Park Manu, Madre de Dios, Peru, including additional material examined from Venezuela. The female, male, deutonymph, and protonymph are described and illustrated. A key to the seven species of Parichoronyssus is provided. RESUMEN Se describe la hembra, macho, deutoninfa y protoninfa de Parichoronyssus bakeri nueva especie, la cual fue hallada sobre dos especies de murciélagos filostómidos, Phyllostomus hastatus (Pallas) y Phyllostomus elongatus (E. Geoffroy) en Pakitza, Parque Nacional Manu, Madre de Dios, Perú, incluyendo registros adicionales de material examinado de Venezuela. Se presenta una clave para las siete especies del género Parichoronyssus.

Streblidae (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea) from Yucatan and Updated Species List for Mexico

ABSTRACT This study describes the diversity of ectoparasitic bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae) in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. Fieldwork was carried out from June 2010 to January 2012 in seven municipalities of Yucatan, where 13 sampling sites were selected to capture bats using mist nets. Over 156 sampling nights a total of 910 bats were captured; these belonged to 19 species in four families: Mormoopidae, Phyllostomidae, Natalidae, and Vespertilionidae. Phyllostomidae was the richest family (13 bat species), followed by Mormoopidae (3 spp.), Vespertilionidae (2 spp.), and Natalidae (1 spp.). After careful inspection of the bats, a total of 2,134 Streblid bat flies were collected, belonging to 17 species in six genera (Nycterophilia coxata Ferris, N. natali Wenzel, Trichobius diphyllae Wenzel, T. dugesii Townsend, T. galei Wenzel, T. hirsutulus Bequaert, T. intermedius Peterson and Hurka, T. parasiticus Gervais, T. uniformis Curran, T. yunkeri Wenzel, Megistopoda aranea Coquillett, M. proxima Séguy, Aspidoptera delatorrei Wenzel, Strebla alvarezi Wenzel, S. diphyllae Wenzel, S. wiedemanni Kolenati, and Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett). The richest and most diverse genus was Trichobius. Five species—N. natali, T. diphyllae, M. proxima, A. delatorrei, and M. pseudopterus, are new records for Yucatan, and T. galei is a new record for the country, increasing the total number of Streblidae species for Mexico to 49.

Circadian rhythms and photic entrainment of swimming activity in cave-dwelling fish Astyanax mexicanus (Actinopterygii: Characidae), from El Sotano La Tinaja, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Circadian regulation has a profound adaptive meaning in timing the best performance of biological functions in a cyclic niche. However, in cave-dwelling animals (troglobitic), a lack of photic cyclic environment may represent a disadvantage for persistence of circadian rhythms. There are different populations of cave-dwelling fish Astyanax mexicanus in caves of the Sierra El Abra, Mexico, with different evolutive history. In the present work, we report that fish collected from El Sótano la Tinaja show circadian rhythms of swimming activity in laboratory conditions. Rhythms observed in some of the organisms entrain to either continuous light–dark cycles or discrete skeleton photoperiods tested. Our results indicate that circadian rhythm of swimming activity and their ability to entrain in discrete and continuous photoperiods persist in some organisms that might represent one of the oldest populations of cave-dwelling A. mexicanus in the Sierra El Abra.

Circadian locomotor activity and entrainment by light cycles in cave spiders (Dipluridae and Ctenidae) at the cave Los Riscos, Qro. México

Caves are a special environment in which to study the persistence of circadian rhythms in animals living in an apparent non cyclic environment. Diversity of animals from caves has been studied in order to detect circadian activity in different behaviors. This study reports that most spiders of the families Dipluridae and Ctenidae, found in the deepest and middle zones respectively of the Los Riscos cave, in Querétaro State, México, present circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in free running, and light-dark cycles induce a notable change in circadian period, suggesting an entraining of the locomotor activity rhythm. We discuss the existence of remnant circadian photoreceptors in a nonphotic environment, but also that nonphotic zeitgebers may entrain circadian activity of the fauna inside the cave.

A New Species of the Genus Eudusbabekia (Acari: Prostigmata: Myobiidae) on Leptonycteris nivalis (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Central Mexico

Eudusbabekia provirilia new species was found on the bat Leptonycteris nivalis (Saussure) in the central part of Mexico. The female, male, protonymph, and larva are described and illustrated.

Production of micro- and nanosilica from soil inhabiting Folsomia candida fed with treated rice husk

Rice husk was employed as a source for producing silica micro- and nanoparticles through its digestion by soil fauna. Although many physicochemical methods for producing nanostructures have been studied, the biological processes remain mostly unexplored. Alkaline hydrogen peroxide with continuous control of reaction pH allowed removal of lignin bonds while preserving most of the cell wall and the silica present in the rice husk. The accessibility of lignocellulose was achieved without removing appreciable amounts of lignin, so this agricultural byproduct can be employed as feeding material for microarthropods Folsomia candida (Collembola). When these microarthropods are placed on a substrate of treated rice husk, more than 85% of degraded material is obtained, as compared to the untreated rice husk substrate, while the silica particles obtained show a slight decrease in average size.