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Showing posts with label Bats of Cyprus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bats of Cyprus. Show all posts

Thursday 13 April 2023

Geoffroy's bat - Myotis emarginatus (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1806) - Cyprus

 See also

Λίστα με τα 19 είδη νυχτερίδων της Κύπρου - List of 19 bats species of Cyprus

Λίστα των θηλαστικών της Κύπρου - List of mammals of Cyprus

Τα 31 θηλαστικά της Κύπρου (Web TV) - Του Γιώργου Κωνσταντίνου - Εφημερίδα πολίτης 20/5/2018


Geoffroy's bat (Myotis emarginatus) is a species of vesper bat.

Description

M. emarginatus is a medium-sized bat with long and woolly fur. The dorsal side of the torso is rust-brown to fox-red and the ventral side is a poorly delineated pale yellowish-brown. The young animals are almost fully grey. The face is light brown. The ears are brown and they have an almost right-angled notch at the outer edge and many scattered, wart-like growths on the auricle. The tip of the tragus does not reach the notch on the edge of the ear. The wings are brown and broad. The edge of the tail membrane is supported by a straight calcar and part of it has short, straight and soft hairs.

Ecology

Geoffroy's bat feeds primarily on spiders and flies. It forages chiefly in scrubland and grassland, but is also known to frequent olive plantations and in livestock sheds. It typically roosts underground and in human buildings, often together with Rhinolophus species.

Distribution

Geoffroy's bat can be found in Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

In 2012 a specimen was found in southern England.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos  Pomos 12/4/2023 by Demetris Kolokotronis



Wednesday 29 March 2023

Ένας διαφορετικός σπάνιος Νυχτοπάππαρος (Φρουτονυχτερίδα) με λευκοπάθεια (Albinism Egyptian fruit bat )

See also

All about Cyprus - Όλα για την Κύπρο

Λίστα με τα 19 είδη νυχτερίδων της Κύπρου - List of 19 bats species of Cyprus

Λίστα των θηλαστικών της Κύπρου - List of mammals of Cyprus

Ο κυπριακός Νυχτοπάππαρος στα όρια του αφανισμού (Web TV) - Του Γιώργου Κωνσταντίνου - Εφημερίδα πολίτης 17/12/2017

Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) (Geoffroy, 1810) Νυχτοπάππαρος - Φρουτονυχτερίδα - Cyprus



Τον albino σπάνιο Νυχτοπάππαρο τον βρήκα το 2006 στο χωριό Κλήρου σε ένα περιβόλι πιασμένο σε παράνομα δίχτυα παγιδεύσεις πουλιών. Ευτυχώς ήταν ζωντανός αλλά τραυματισμένος. Τον έβγαλα με πολλή κόπο από τα δίχτυα και τον μετάφερα σπίτι μου όπου τον περίθαλψα για μια βδομάδα και μετά τον αφίσα ελεύθερο. Θυμάμαι μου είχε κάνει μεγάλη εντύπωση το πόσο φιλικό ζώο ήταν αφού από την πρώτη μέρα έτρωγε τα φρούτα από το χέρι μου σαν να γνωριζόμαστε χρόνια.

Έστειλα την φωτογραφία του σε Τσέχους ερευνητές οι οποίοι μελετούν εδώ και πολλά χρόνια το είδος αυτό, και έμειναν έκπληκτοι. Μου είπαν ότι τα τελευταία χρόνια επισκέφθηκαν όλες τις χώρες που υπάρχει το είδος αυτό καταμετρώντας τους πληθυσμούς τους και ότι ποτέ δεν είδαν άτομο του είδους αυτού με λευκοπάθεια.
Ίσως να ήταν ο μοναδικός σε ολόκληρο τον πλανήτη.
Ο αλμπινισμός, ή αλλιώς αλφισμός, αναφέρεται στην αδυναμία του σώματος να παραγάγει μελανίνη. Η μελανίνη είναι το βασικό στοιχείο που επηρεάζει το χρώμα του δέρματος, των ματιών και των μαλλιών, με αποτέλεσμα την μερική ή ολική απώλεια της μελάγχρωσης. Τα ζώα με αλμπινισμό παρουσιάζουν κοινά χαρακτηριστικά με τους ανθρώπους με αλμπινισμό, όπως ανοιχτόχρωμο τρίχωμα και κόκκινο χρώμα ματιών.
Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) (Geoffroy, 1810) Νυχτοπάππαρος - Φρουτονυχτερίδα

Κείμενο, φωτογραφίες, 13/11/2006 του Γιώργου Κωνσταντίνου











Monday 23 May 2016

Plecotus kolombatovici Dulic, 1980 - Μεσογειακή Ωτονυχτερίδα - Kolombatovic's Long-eared Bat - Mediterranean Long-eared Bat - Cyprus

Family: Vespertilionidae

Taxonomic Notes: Originally described as a subspecies of Plecotus austriacus, but clearly distinct; see Mayer and von Helversen (2001) for genetics and Tvrtkovic et al. (2005) for morphology.

Range Description: Plecotus kolombatovici is a Mediterranean endemic with its distribution fragmented into three parts: southern regions of the Balkans and Asia Minor (Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and probably into Israel, Palestine and Jordan), northeast Libya (Cyrenaica) and northwest Africa from Morocco to northwest Libya, it was found in Malta and Pantellaria (Spitzenberger et al. 2006). It occurs from sea level to higher altitudes in the Rif and Atlas mountains.

Countries occurrence: Albania; Algeria; Croatia; Cyprus; Greece (Kriti); Italy; Lebanon; Libya; Malta; Morocco; Serbia (Serbia); Tunisia; Turkey

Upper elevation limit (metres): 3000

Population: Little is known about population size and trends in this species, although it is regarded as relatively common in North Africa. In Europe, the total population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, and it is suspected that the population may be declining. Summer colonies usually number 10-30 females, although a breeding colony of 120 females was found in a building in Croatia (F. Spitzenberger pers. comm. 2006). Winter clusters are smaller (10 individuals), and the species is often solitary at this time of year (S. Aulagnier pers. comm. 2007). It was thought that European, African and southwest Asian populations were isolated from each other, but range extensions as a result of recent records indicate that they might not be as isolated as was previously thought.

Current Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology: It forages in a variety of open and semi-closed habitats, mainly steppe but also agricultural landscapes in both lowland and mountain areas. It often forages over small water bodies. It feeds predominantly on moths, but also takes beetles and flies. Summer roosts are primarily rocky cavities, but also dark areas of old monuments, ruins, caverns and buildings. Winter roosts are located in buildings, mines, caves, wells, and trees.

Major Threat(s): Pesticides and roost disturbance have a negative impact on the species, but are not thought to be causing significant population declines at the global level. However, in Europe, where this species is largely restricted to coastal areas, disturbance of roost sites by tourists may be a major threat.
Photos at Palaichori 20/5/2016, by Michael Hadjiconstantis. 





Wednesday 26 August 2015

Nycteribiidae - Bat fly - Penicillidia (Penicillidia) dufourii - Cyprus


Παρασιτική μύγα που ζει σε νυχτερίδες
Nycteribiidae of the true fly superfamily Hippoboscoidea are known as "bat flies", together with their close relatives the Streblidae. As the latter do not seem to be a monophyletic group, it is conceivable to unite all bat flies in a single family.
They are flattened, spiderlike flies without eyes or wings, and are seldom encountered by general collectors, as they almost never leave the bodies of their hosts. Both males and females take blood meals, thus they qualify as real parasites. Most species are highly host-specific. The family is primarily found in the Old World tropics; a few of the 274 known species occur in the Neotropics and in Europe. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photos Pomos 9/6/2013 by George Konstantinou













Diptera Pupipara from bats of two large eastern Mediterranean islands, Crete and Cyprus
Martin ŠEVČÍK1,*, Petr BENDA2,3, Radek Kris LUČAN3
1
Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra,
SK-949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
2
Department of Zoology, National Museum, CZ-115 79 Prague 1, Czech Republic 3
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic
Received: 15.12.2011              Accepted: 19.09.2012             Published Online: 24.12.2012              Printed: 21.01.2013
Abstract: This paper presents a review of records of bat flies (families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) from Crete and Cyprus, based on new findings and published data. Seven species representing 4 genera belonging to the family Nycteribiidae and 1 species from the family Streblidae from 5 bat species in Crete are reported, and 7 Nycteribiidae species (4 genera) and 1 Streblidae species from 9 bat species in Cyprus are reported. The bat flies Nycteribia latreillii (Leach, 1817), Basilia mongolensis nudior Hůrka 1972, Penicillidia conspicua Speiser, 1900, P. dufourii Westwood, 1835, and Brachytarsina flavipennis Macquart, 1851 are reported from Crete for the first time, and Phthiridium integrum (Theodor and Moscona, 1954), P. dufourii, and B. flavipennis are reported from Cyprus for the first time. Key words: Nycteribiidae, Streblidae, first records, distribution, hosts


1. Introduction

The family Nycteribiidae Samouelle, 1819 comprises the dipterans parasitising on bats of all zoogeographical regions. According to the checklist by Graciolli and Dick (2008), more than 270 species occur in the world. Seventeen species (5 genera) are known from the western Palaearctic (Theodor, 1967; Hůrka and Soós, 1986a), and 14 species (5 genera) of them occur in the Mediterranean area (Hůrka, 1964; Theodor, 1967).
No detailed information on Nycteribiidae has been available from Crete, except for several records of 3 species reported by Theodor (1967) and Kock (1974, 1989): Nycteribia pedicularia Latreille, 1805 (collected from Myotis capaccinii (Bonaparte, 1837)), Nycteribia schmidlii Schiner, 1853 (from M. capaccinii and Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817)), and Phthiridium biarticulatum Hermann, 1804 (from Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774)). A similar situation holds for the nycteribiid fauna of Cyprus: only scarce data have been available from this island, including records of 5 species, Nycteribia pedicularia (from M. capaccinii), N. schmidlii (from Rhinolophus euryale Blasius, 1853), Phthiridium biarticulatum (from R. euryale), Basilia daganiae Theodor and Moscona, 1954 (from Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817)), and Penicilidia conspicua Speiser, 1900 (from M. schreibersii) (Bequaert, 1953; Theodor, 1956, 1967; Kock, 1974, 1984, 1989).
* Correspondence: martin.sevcik@hotmail.sk
The family Streblidae Kolenati, 1863 is represented by 4 species of 3 genera in the Mediterranean (Jobling, 1939; Hůrka and Soós, 1986b). Just one species, Brachytarsina flavipennis Macquart, 1851, occurs in Europe (Hůrka, 1972). So far, no record of this species has been available either from Crete or from Cyprus.

2. Materials and methods

In October 2005, July and October 2006, and May and June 2008, bats were collected from Crete and Cyprus in the course of research trips (Benda et al., 2007, 2009). Mist nets were installed according to standard procedures (Kunz and Kurta, 1988) in front of water, and bats were also captured in their roosts (caves, mines). Each captured host was placed into a separate cloth bag and labelled. Hosts were inspected for bat flies, ectoparasites living in the fur of the body, which were collected with entomological tweezers and preserved in 75% ethanol. Samples for a species of host were stored in an Eppendorf tube. The age and sexual status (adult male ( ad), adult female ( ad), subadult female ( sad)) of the host is given for most samples, with the exception of the period of October 2010, when only the number and species of host were registered. All bat flies were observed freely under a magnifying glass, and keys were used for the determination and comparison of parasitic species: Theodor and Moscona (1954), Theodor (1967, 1975), and Hůrka (1972). Voucher specimens of the parasites are deposited in the collection of the first author (cMŠ). The taxa are arranged alphabetically. The information for each species appears in the following format: synonyms available from the respective islands; published data; new material examined (number and developmental stage of specimens, locality, date, number of collection, age/number of host).

3. Results and discussion

In total, 6 species representing 4 genera belonging to the family Nycteribiidae and 1 species of the family Streblidae were collected from Crete, and 4 species of 2 genera of the family Nycteribiidae and 1 species of Streblidae were collected from Cyprus.

3.1. Family Nycteribiidae (Samouelle 1819)

3.1.1. Subfamily Nycteribiinae Samouelle, 1819, sensu Maa 1965

3.1.1.1. Nycteribia (Nycteribia) latreillii (Leach, 1817) Crete. New material examined: 1, 1, Lefkogeia, at Venetian bridge ca. 3 km E of Kato Preveli Monastery, 30 May 2008 (cMŠ 3962-3963, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 2♀♀ ad Myotis blythii.
Remarks: Until Theodor (1954a), the species was reported in Europe under various names, as the proper name was erroneously used for N. kolenati Theodor and Moscona, 1954. The distribution of N. latreillii corresponds to the ranges of its primary host species, Myotis myotis (Borkhausen, 1797), M. blythii (Tomes, 1857), and M. punicus Felten, 1977, i.e. almost all of continental Europe (northern limit of 51°N–52°N), the Maghreb, the Middle East, and Central Asia (Hůrka, 1964; Theodor, 1967). In addition, it can also occur on other species of the genus Myotis Kaup, 1829, Miniopterus Bonaparte, 1837, and Rhinolophus Lacépède, 1799, as well as on other cavedwelling bats (see Theodor, 1967). Our findings represent the first evidence of this species from Crete. Although we did not find this bat fly in Cyprus, its occurrence is to be expected due the presence of one of the principal host species, M. blythii (Benda et al., 2007).
3.1.1.2. Nycteribia (Nycteribia) pedicularia Latreille, 1805 Crete. Published records: Kock (1974): Piskokefalo at Sitia (host Myotis capaccinii).
Cyprus. Published records: Kock (1974): Kyrenia (host Myotis capaccinii).
Remarks: Nycteribia pedicularia has frequently been confused with N. latreillii and/or N. kolenati Theodor and Moscona, 1954. N. pedicularia is distributed in south-eastern Europe, and the northern limit of its range probably reaches the Alps and southern Carpathians (Hůrka, 1962). In the broader scale of the western Palaearctic, its distribution range encompasses Turkey, Palestine, Iran, Tunisia, and Algeria (Theodor and Moscona, 1954; Theodor, 1967). However, the record from Cyprus is doubtful, as the occurrence of the host species as well as the record itself is in doubt (see Benda et al., 2007). Host species of this bat fly are cave-dwelling bats of the genera Myotis, Miniopterus, and Rhinolophus (Theodor and Moscona, 1954).

3.1.1.3. Nycteribia (Listropoda) s. schmidlii Schiner, 1853

Crete. Published records: Theodor (1967): Limnea (host Miniopterus schreibersii). - Kock (1974): Canea = Chaniá (host Miniopterus schreibersii), Piskokefalo bei Sitia (host Myotis capaccinii).
New material examined: 2♂♂, 1, Dramia, Petres river bridge, 6 October 2006 (cMŠ 3400, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 1 ad Myotis capaccinii; 5♂♂, 9♀♀, Argyroupoli, Mouselas river, 3 June 2008 (cMŠ 3973-3974, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 2♀♀ ad Myotis capaccinii; 3♂♂, 3♀♀, Omalos Plateau, Tzani cave, 1 October 2006 (cMŠ 3360-3375, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from collection 13♂♂ ad and 2♀♀ sad Miniopterus schreibersii.
Cyprus. Published records: Theodor (1967): site
unspecified (host Rhinolophus euryale).
Remarks: The distribution of the western subspecies N. s. schmidlii corresponds to the distributional range of its principal host bat, Miniopterus schreibersii, viz. central and southern Europe, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and North Africa.
3.1.1.4. Phthiridium biarticulatum Hermann, 1804 Synonym: Stylidia biarticulata Hermann, 1804: Theodor (1967: 127).
Crete. Published records: Theodor (1967): Gonia = Mount Gonias (host Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). - Kock (1989): Rethimnon (host Rhinolophus ferrumequinum).
New material examined: 1, Kolymvari, mine above village, 9 October 2006 (cMŠ 3426, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 1 ad Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; 2♀♀, Omalos Plateau, Tzani cave, 1 October 2006 (cMŠ 3377-3378, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 2♂♂ ad Rhinolophus ferrumequinum.
Cyprus. Published records: Theodor (1967): site
undefined (host Rhinolophus euryale).
New material examined: 1, Kakopetria, Troodos Forest, abandoned mine 5 km to SW, upper gallery, 13 October 2005 (cMŠ c07, leg. R.K. Lučan) from Rhinolophus ferrumequinum individual of unknown sex and age; 1, Afendrika, ruins of Panagia Chrysiotissa church and Asomatos church, 17 October 2005 (cMŠ c02, leg. R.K. Lučan) from 1 ad Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774); 3♂♂, 6♀♀, Kakopetria, Troodos Forest, abandoned mine 5 km to SW, upper gallery, 27 July 2006
(cMŠ 3335, 3336, leg. P. Benda) from 1 ad and 1 sad Rhinolophus blasii (Peters, 1866).
Remarks: This cave-dwelling bat fly lives on representatives of the genus Rhinolophus. Its distribution range is circum-Mediterranean and reaches Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (Hůrka, 1964). While Rhinolophus ferrumequinum is the most frequent host of this bat fly (Hůrka, 1964), other (mostly cave-dwelling) bats, e.g., Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis myotis and M. blythii, are less-parasitised hosts (Hůrka, 1964).

3.1.1.5. Phthiridium integrum (Theodor and Moscona, 1954)

Cyprus. New material examined: 3♀♀, Kantara, Kantara castle ruins 3 km to NE, 25 July 2006 (cMŠ 3328, leg. P. Benda) from 1 ad Eptesicus anatolicus.
Remarks: This species was described by Speiser (1901) and redescribed by Karaman (1939) based on a record from Egypt. Findings are known from host species of the genera Taphozous Geoffroy, 1818, Rhinolophus and Hipposideros Gray, 1831 from the Middle East: Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen (Sanborn and Hoogstraal, 1953; Theodor and Moscona, 1954; Theodor, 1976; Kock and Nader, 1979; Amr and Qumsiyeh, 1993). This species is reported here for the first time from Cyprus and from a new host, Eptesicus anatolicus Felten, 1971.

3.1.1.6. Basilia (Basilia) daganiae Theodor and Moscona, 1954

Cyprus. Published records: Bequaert (1953): Limassol (host Pipistrellus kuhlii). - Theodor (1956): Limassol, (host Pipistrellus kuhlii), site undefined, leg. Lilford (without host). - Theodor (1967): site undefined, leg. Lilford (host Pipistrellus kuhlii). - Kock (1974): Larnaka (host Pipistrellus kuhlii).
Remarks: The distribution range of this species from the “bathybothyra group” covers the whole eastern Mediterranean: Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Palestine (Theodor and Moscona, 1954; Lewis and Harrison, 1962; Hůrka and Soós, 1986a; Benda et al., 2010). Its occurrence outside the eastern Mediterranean region is not excluded, considering the much broader distribution of its main host Pipistrellus kuhlii. B. daganiae has also been recorded from other species of the genus Pipistrellus: P. pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774) from Jordan (Benda et al., 2010).
3.1.1.7. Basilia (Basilia) mongolensis nudior Hůrka, 1972 Crete. New material examined: 2♀♀, Meskla, above creek, 5 October 2006 (cMŠ 3393, leg. P. Benda and V.
Hanák) from 1 ad Myotis aurascens; 1, 1, Katholiko monastery, Agiou Ioanni cave, 27 May 2008 (cMŠ 3958, leg. P. Benda) from 1 ad Myotis aurascens.
Remarks: This subspecies from the “bathybothyra group” was described by Hůrka (1972) from the host Plecotus austriacus Fischer, 1829. The full expansion of this subspecies is unknown, and we expect it to be in the same area distribution as the host Myotis nattereri (Kuhl, 1817). Its occurrence on other arboreal host species is not excluded, but it occurs mostly in the “mystacinus group”, viz. M. alcathoe von Helversen and Heller, 2001 (Heddergott, 2009), and in our records from M. aurascens Kusjakin, 1935. Previous records are from Croatia, Greece (Hůrka, 1972), Bulgaria (Hůrka, 1984), Austria (Kock, 1984), Turkey (Aktaş and Hasbenli, 1994; Hasbenli, 1997), and Germany (Heddergott, 2009).

3.1.1.8. Penicillidia (Neopenicillidia) conspicua Speiser, 1901

Crete. New material examined: 3♂♂, 3♀♀, Omalos Plateau, Tzani cave, 1 October 2006 (cMŠ 3360-3375, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from collection 13♂♂ ad and 2♀♀ sad Miniopterus schreibersii; 2♀♀, Milatos, Milatou cave, 7 October 2006 (cMŠ 3422-3425, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from collection 1 ad and 3♀♀ sad Miniopterus schreibersii.
Cyprus. Published records: Kock (1989): Emba, Paphos Distr. (host Miniopterus schreibersii).
New material examined: 1, 1, Neo Horio, Smigies Trail, ca. 3 km to NW, abandoned chromite mine system ‘Magnesia Mine’, 12 October 2005 (cMŠ c03, c04, leg. R.K. Lučan) from 2 Miniopterus schreibersii individuals of unknown sex and age.
Remarks: Penicillidia conspicua is a species bound to its principal host, Miniopterus schreibersii, and its distribution range corresponds to the occurrence of this bat (Hůrka, 1964). Within this range, it has frequently been found also on Myotis myotis and other cave-dwelling bat species (Hůrka, 1964). This parasite species is reported from Crete for the first time here.
3.1.1.9. Penicillidia (Penicillidia) dufourii Westwood, 1835 Crete. New material examined: 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Lefkogeia, at Venetian bridge ca. 3 km E of Kato Preveli Monastery, 30 May 2008 (cMŠ 3962-3963, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 2♀♀ ad Myotis blythii; 1, 1, Dramia, Petres river bridge, 6 October 2006 (cMŠ 3400, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 1 ad Myotis capaccinii; 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Argyroupoli, Mouselas river, 3 June 2008 (cMŠ 39733974, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 2♀♀ ad Myotis capaccinii.
Cyprus. New material examined: 2♀♀, Kakopetria, Troodos Forest, abandoned mine 4 km to SW, lower gallery, 15 October 2005 (cMŠ c05, leg. R.K. Lučan) from 1 ad Myotis blythii; 1, Kakopetria, Troodos Forest, abandoned mine 5 km to SW, upper gallery, 13 October 2005 (cMŠ c06, leg. R.K. Lučan) from Myotis nattereri individual of unknown sex and age.
Remarks: The subspecies P. d. dufourii is distributed over continental Europe, North Africa, and south-western Asia to the western Himalayas and eastern Kazakhstan. Myotis myotis and M. blythii are the main hosts of this species, but it can also be found on Miniopterus schreibersii, though much more rarely. This parasite species is recorded here for the first time from Crete and Cyprus.

3.2. Family Streblidae Kolenati, 1863

3.2.1. Subfamily Brachytarsininae (Speiser, 1900)

3.2.1.1. Brachytarsina (Brachytarsina) flavipennis Macquart, 1851

Crete. New material examined: 1, Patsos, Agiou Antoniou cave, 3 October 2006 (cMŠ 3388, leg. P. Benda and V. Hanák) from 1 sad Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; 2♀♀, Katholiko monastery, Agiou Ioanni cave, 27 May 2008 (cMŠ 3958, leg. P. Benda) from 1 ad Myotis aurascens.
Cyprus. New material examined: 1, Kakopetria, Troodos Forest, abandoned mine 5 km to SW, upper gallery, 13 October 2005 (cMŠ 08, leg. R.K. Lučan) from Rhinolophus ferrumequinum individual of unknown sex and age; 1, 2♀♀, Kakopetria, Troodos Forest, abandoned mine 5 km to SW, upper gallery, 27 July 2006 (cMŠ 3336, leg. P. Benda) from 1 sad Rhinolophus blasii.
Remarks: B. flavipennis is the only streblid species occurring in the Mediterranean portion of the Palaearctic. This species has a circum-Mediterranean distribution range, and in Europe it reaches the latitude of 40°N–43° N, roughly corresponding to the areas of mean January temperatures of 8 to 10 °C (Jobling, 1951; Hůrka, 1972).
Jobling (1934, 1939) indicated the occurrence of this species in Cyprus and Theodor’s record (1954b) is uncertain, since a direct finding has not been reported. This bat fly is recorded here from both large islands for the first time.
In conclusion, the combination of our new data with previously published information has resulted in an increase in the total number of species of the Nycteribiidae family on Crete from 3 to 7 species, and from 5 to 7 species on Cyprus. In addition to the above discussion, we may expect other species from this family (genera Nycteribia Latreille, 1796, Basilia Miranda-Ribeiro, 1903, and Eucampsipoda Kolenati, 1857) on the individual islands. Nycteribia (Acrocholidia) vexata Westwood, 1835 is a species with a relation to the extension of the principal hosts Myotis myotis and M. blythii (as N. latreilii), whereas the second host was confirmed on the island of Crete (Benda et al., 2008). The principal host of Basilia nana Theodor, 1954, in Middle Eastern countries is M. nattereri (Turkey - Aktaş and Hasbenli, 1994; Hasbenli, 1997; Jordan - Amr and Qumsiyeh, 1993; Benda et al., 2010), and on this basis we can expect this parasitic species to confirm this host from Cyprus (Benda et al., 2007). In addition, on the same island there probably occurs the parasitic species of the host Rousettus aegyptiacus (Geoffroy, 1810), viz. Eucampsipoda aegyptia (Macquart, 1851). The occurrence of this species on island has already been considered by Theodor (1952, 1954a, 1955; see also Kock and Nader, 1979). This host species has been confirmed on Cyprus by several authors (summary in Benda et al., 2011).
The fauna of Streblidae is represented by a single species, which was confirmed for the first time on both islands.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the Czech Science Foundation (#206/09/0888), the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (#DKRVO 00023272), and the University Grant Agency of the Constantine of Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia (VII/36/2011).


Appendix Appendix I. Gazetteer.
Only the originally recorded sites are mentioned.
Crete. Prefecture of Chania: Argyroupoli [Αργυρούπολη], Mouselas river, old building, 35°19N, 24°20E, 105 m a.
s. l.; - Katholiko Monastery [Μονή Καθολικού], Agiou Ioanni cave, 35°35N, 24°09E, 80 m a. s. l.; - Kolymvari [Κολυμβάρι], mine, 35°33N, 23°46E, 44 m a. s. l.; - Meskla [Μεσκλά], creek, 35°24N, 23°57E, 206 m a. s. l.; - Omalos Plateau [Οροπέδιο Ομαλού], Tzani cave, 35°21N, 23°54E, 1025 m a. s. l.; Prefecture of Rethymno: Dramia [Δράμια], Petre river bridge, 35°21N, 24°21E, 2 m a. s. l. - Lefkogeia [Λευκόγεια], Venetian bridge ca. 3 km E of Kato Preveli Monastery, 35°10N, 24°28E, 45 m a. s. l.; - Patsos [Πατσός], Agiou Antoniou cave, 35°15N, 24°34E, 200 m a. s. l.; Prefecture of Lasithi: Milatos [Μίλατος], Milatou cave, 35°18N, 25°35E, 129 m a. s. l.
Cyprus. Northern Cyprus: Afendrika (= Panagia Afentrika [Παναγια Αφεντρικα]), ruins, İskele District, 35°39N, 34°26E, ca. 25 m a. s. l.; - Kantara (= Kantara [Κανταρα]), Kantara castle ruins 3 km to NE, İskele District, 35°24N, 33°55E, ca. 625 m a. s. l.; - Southern Cyprus: Kakopetria [Κακοπετρια], Troodos Forest, mine 5 km to SW (upper gallery), Lefkosia District, 34°57N, 32°52E, ca. 1665 m a. s. l.; - Kakopetria [Κακοπετρια], Troodos Forest, mine 4 km to SW (lower gallery), Lefkosia District, 34°58N, 32°52E, ca. 1305 m a. s. l.; - Neo Horio [Νεο Χωριο], Smigies Trail ca. 3 km to NW, abandoned chromite mine system ‘Magnesia Mine’, Akamas Peninsula, Pafos District, 35°03N, 32°20E, ca. 305 m a. s. l.
Country / Family / Subfamily / Genus / Species
Country: CRETE
Family: NYCTERIBIIDAE Samouelle, 1819
Subfamily: Nycteribiinae Samouelle, 1819
Genus: Nycteribia Latreille, 1796
Species of host
Nycteribia latreilii (Leach, 1817)*
Myotis blythii (Tomes, 1857)**
Nycteribia pedicularia Latreille, 1805
Myotis capaccinii (Bonaparte, 1837)
Nycteribia schmidlii schmidlii Schiner, 1853
Genus: Phthiridium Hermann, 1804
Myotis capaccinii (Bonaparte, 1837) Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817)
Phthiridium biarticulatum Hermann, 1804 Genus: Basilia Miranda-Ribeiro, 1903
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774)
Basilia mongolensis nudior Hůrka, 1972* Genus: Penicillidia Kolenati, 1863
Myotis aurascens Kusjakin, 1935**
Penicillidia conspicua Speiser, 1901*
Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817)**
Penicillidia dufourii Westwood, 1835*
Family: STREBLIDAE Kolenati, 1683
Subfamily: Brachytarsininae (Speiser, 1900)
Genus: Brachytarsina Macquart, 1851
Myotis blythii (Tomes, 1857)**
Myotis capaccinii (Bonaparte, 1837)**
Brachytarsina flavipennis Macquart, 1851*
Country: CYPRUS
Family: NYCTERIBIIDAE Samouelle, 1819
Subfamily: Nycteribiinae Samouelle, 1819
Genus: Nycteribia Latreille, 1796
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774)** Myotis aurascens Kusjakin, 1935**
Nycteribia pedicularia Latreille, 1805
Myotis capaccinii (Bonaparte, 1837)
Nycteribia schmidlii schmidlii Schiner, 1853 Genus: Phthiridium Hermann, 1804
Rhinolophus euryale Blasius, 1853
Phthiridium biarticulatum Hermann, 1804
Rhinolophus blasii Peters, 1867**
Rhinolophus euryale Blasius, 1853
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774)**
Phthiridium integrum (Theodor and Moscona, 1954)* Genus: Basilia Miranda-Ribeiro, 1903
Eptesicus anatolicus Felten, 1971**
Basilia daganiae Theodor and Moscona, 1954 Genus: Penicillidia Kolenati, 1863
Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817)
Penicillidia conspicua Speiser, 1901
Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817)
Penicillidia dufourii Westwood, 1835*
Family: STREBLIDAE Kolenati, 1683
Subfamily: Brachytarsininae (Speiser, 1900)
Genus: Brachytarsina Macquart, 1851
Myotis blythii (Tomes, 1857)** Myotis nattereri (Kuhl, 1817)**
Brachytarsina flavipennis Macquart, 1851*
Rhinolophus blasii Peters, 1867**

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774)**
Appendix II. Checklist of Nycteribiidae and Streblidae with their hosts from the islands of Crete and Cyprus. Checklist of 7 species, with 4 genera of  bat flies Nycteribiidae and 1 species of Streblidae known from Crete and the same number of species and genera from
both parasitic families documented from Cyprus, based on both literature data and new records obtained during recent field studies. The first record of the parasite (*) and the first record from the host (**) of the respective island are indicated.

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