Quadraceps cf. junceus (Scopoli, 1763)

Orlova, Maria V., Larchanka, Aleksandra I. & Sychra, Oldřich, 2024, Unusual finding of chewing louse Quadraceps cf. junceus (Scopoli, 1763) (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) on Nathusius pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii (Keyserling & Blasius, 1839) (Mammalia: Chiroptera) with review of findings of lice reported from bats, Ecologica Montenegrina 72, pp. 167-177 : 169-172

Quadraceps cf. junceus (Scopoli, 1763)

♀ ex Nathusius' pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus nathusii Keyserling & Blasius, 1839 ( Chiroptera : Vespertilionidae ) (adult ♀, collection lot №105) from State Nature Protection Institution "Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve" (54°45'36"N 28°20'24"E), 19 July 1996, leg. Sergei V. Kruskop, det. O. Sychra ( Figure 1 ).

Quadraceps represents one of morphologically very variable genus. Gustafsson (2012) suggested that this genus should be split into smaller, morphologically and genetically distinct genera. There is about 127 species described from about 236 species of birds from the order Charadriiformes all around the world ( Price et al. 2003). There is a total of 23 species of Quadraceps known from those 38 species of charadriid birds reported in Republic of Belarus ( Table 1).

According to the key by Gustafsson et al. (2018) the collected female was identified as Quadraceps cf. junceus , a louse species occurring on Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) . However, the determination of females of this genus to species level can be problematic, because some important characteristics are on male genitalia and without male it was impossible to identify our female for sure. It is not possible to completely exclude also other morphologically very similar species, Quadraceps furvus (Burmeister, 1838) , Quadraceps obscurus (Burmeister, 1838) , Quadraceps obtusus (Kellogg & Kuwana, 1902) , Quadraceps ochropi (Denny, 1842) , and Quadraceps similis (Giebel, 1866) occurring on birds of the genus Tringa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Vanellus Brisson, 1760 ( Table 1). The findings of Q. junceus are known from Russia (Lower Don region – Malysheva et al. 2020), Azerbaijan (Blagoveshtchensky 1940) and Tajikistan (Blagoveshtchensky 1951); specimens of Q. obtusus were collected from Azerbaijan (Blagoveshtchensky 1940) and Tajikistan (Blagoveshtchensky 1951); and species Q. ochropi was obtained from Azerbaijan (Blagoveshtchensky 1940).

Nevertheless all these species have short tergocentral setae on tergopleurites III–VI, that do not reach posterior margin of following segment, while our female has these setae long and reaching beyond posterior margin of following segment ( Figure 2 ).

The Charadriformes order includes 38 species in the reserve ( Table 1). The representative of the Charadriiformes ( Tringa ochropus ), unlike most waders, usually makes a nest in trees, using old buildings of thrushes, jays, crows, squirrels, on spruce branches near the trunk, on old fallen trees, stumps, in hollows, less often on the ground, hummocks ( Fedyushin, Dolbik 1967; Nikiforov, Yaminsky 1989). Thus, it is possible that the same roosts can be used by forest pipistrelle and representatives of Charadriiformes . Also, owls (eagle owls) could bring the captured sandpiper into a hollow, which the bat could use in the future.

Table 1

15 Actitis hypoleucos (Linnaeus, 1758) Quadraceps ravus (Kellogg, 1899)

16 Tringa ochropus Linnaeus, 1758

17 Tringa nebularia (Gunnerus, 1767)

18 Tringa glareola Linnaeus, 1758

19 Tringa totanus (Linnaeus, 1758)

20 Tringa erythropus (Pallas, 1764)

Quadraceps ochropi (Denny, 1842)

Quadraceps similis (Giebel, 1866)

Quadraceps obscurus (Burmeister, 1838)

Quadraceps obtusus (Kellogg & Kuwana, 1902)

Quadraceps furvus (Burmeister, 1838)

21 Lymnocryptes minimus (Brunnich, 1764)

22 Scolopax rusticola Linnaeus, 1758

23 Gallinago gallinago (Linnaeus, 1758)

24 Gallinago media (Latham, 1787)

Family Stercorariidae

25 Stercorarius parasiticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Family Laridae

Figures

Figure 1. Quadraceps cf. junceus: A. Habitus. B. Detail of head, thorax and abdominal segments II–IV. Scale bar 500 µm. Differential diagnosis (according to Gustafsson et al. 2018): pale and slender species; antero-median indentations (AMI) of tergopleurites II–V slender, all longer than half of tergopleurite length.

Figure 2. Lice of genus Quadraceps parasitizing birds of the genus Tringa: A. Q. furvus; B. Q. junceus; C. Q. obscurus; D. Q. obtusus; E. Q. ochropi; F. Q. similis (Sychra, own data).