Hectopsylla

Von Frauenfeld, 1860

A of stick-tight in the , comprising thirteen that parasitize non- mammals, birds, and bats. The genus was established by Von Frauenfeld in 1860, with H. psittaci as the species. Several species were described by Karl Jordan between 1906 and 1942. The genus exhibits specialized attachment behaviors, with females of some species becoming permanently embedded in host skin.

Hectopsylla by (c) Casey H. Richart, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Casey H. Richart. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hectopsylla: /hɛk.toʊˈpsɪl.ə/

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Distribution

occur across the Neotropical region, with records from North America (Arizona, California, Texas), Central America (Panama), and South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia). Specific distribution varies by species: H. pulex has been documented from Arizona to Brazil and Colombia; H. psittaci ranges from northern Chile to California; H. knighti represents the only species described outside South America (Michoacán, Mexico).

Diet

Blood-feeding ; females of some feed to repletion on blood.

Host Associations

Leptonycteris yerbabuenae - Lesser long-nosed bat; for H. pulex in Arizona
Molossus molossus - Pallas's mastiff bat; for H. pulex in Colombia
Molossus rufus - for H. pulex
Tadarida brasiliensis - Brazilian free-tailed bat; for H. pulex
Eptesicus furinalis - Argentine bat; first record for H. pulex in Colombia
Cyanoliseus patagonus patagonus - Burrowing parrot; for H. narium in Patagonia
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota - cliff swallow; for H. psittaci in California
Hydrobates markhami - Markham's storm petrel; for H. psittaci in northern Chile
Conepatus humboldtii - Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk; for H. broscus in Argentina
Conepatus arequipae - Hog-nosed skunk; for H. coniger in Bolivia
Chelemys macronyx - Andean long-clawed mouse; for H. pascuali in Argentina
Eligmodontia typus - for H. gracilis in Argentina
Akodon caenosus - for H. gracilis

Life Cycle

, , , . In H. pulex, eggs are expelled onto the and fall to the substrate; only eggs deposited in bat guano near host colonies complete development. Newly emerged acquire hosts near guano . Females attach, feed to repletion, become , autosever their legs, and die in situ.

Behavior

Females of some exhibit permanent attachment to via serrated , remaining after initial attachment. In H. narium, freshly emerged can jump up to 25 cm horizontally and crawl vigorously before attachment. Once anchored, females become sessile and remain attached until death. Males of H. narium were observed in host nostrils but not feeding on nestlings; mating occurs in nasal cavities. Males of H. pulex have not been found attached to hosts, only collected from bat guano, suggesting copulation occurs before females acquire hosts. Females of H. pulex autosever legs at of or after becoming .

Ecological Role

of mammals and birds; contribute to in roost environments through and debris falling into guano . Large females may potentially interfere with bat echolocation due to size relative to the tragus, though this has not been experimentally demonstrated.