New Record of a Phoretic Pseudoscorpion Species, Cheiridium museorum (Leach, 1817) (Pseudoscorpiones: Cheiridiidae) Associated with Pelage of the Indian Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus coromandra (Gray, 1838) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Lakhimpur-Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, India
Jitendra Kumar *
Department of Zoology, Government Degree College, Kant, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Amita Kanaujia
Biodiversity and Wildlife Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Thirty seven pseudoscorpion specimens were collected from abdominal furs of the little Indian bat (Pipistrellus coromandra) captured from six different roosts in Lakhimpur-Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, India. Out of 25 captured bats, seven bats (two males and five females) were found to be associated with pseudoscorpions. Collected pseudoscorpion species was identified as Cheiridium museorum (Leach, 1817). It was a new record of phoretic association of pseudoscorpion species with pelage of the Indian Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus coromandra (Gray, 1838) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). This phoretic association was found as commensalism and for the purpose of food and distribution.
Keywords: Arachnids, phoretic association, mammals, commensalism