The species of the genus Cimex (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) are important ectoparasites of European bats. Unlike other ectoparasites, they are attached to the body of their host only when they need to feed, otherwise they stay in refugia in bat roosts. Consequently, they are often overlooked by bat specialists and in many countries they are either unknown or poorly characterized. This study reports results from thorough investigations of bat roosts of diverse bat species in a Northwest-Southeast transect across Europe: Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria. The distribution of Cimex lectularius follows the synanthropic habitats
of its principal hosts, Myotis myotis and M. emarginatus, both Mediterranean elements of the European fauna. The climate in natural roosts (i.e. caves) inhabited by these bats in southern areas appears to restrain the presence of cimicids. In central Europe, C. pipistrelli parasitizes, beside M. myotis, many crevice-dwelling bat species indigenous to the boreal zone. However, in southern Europe, it appears only in connection with Nyctalus noctula. C. lectularius was confirmed for five host bat species and newly recorded for
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, C. pipistrelli was confirmed for seven bat species and newly recorded for Myotis nattereri. The first record of C.
emarginatus outside of its type locality and Myotis alcathoe as a new host are reported. The host preferences of the species of the genus Cimex
are discussed.
Large hibernating aggregations and behaviour called late summer or autumn “invasions” when large groups of bats enter buildings are known in pipistrelles. We investigated differences in roosting behaviour between two cryptic species (common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and soprano pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus) during autumn and winter periods. In total 463 bats were sampled in both caves and buildings with temporary occurrence during the period of late summer and autumn mating and presumable migrations from late July to September (10 sites), and in all known types of hibernacula from late November to March (34 sites). Sampling sites were located within the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania in areas where the two species occur sympatrically throughout the summer. Using a DNA-based identifi cation method, all but four individuals were identifi ed as P. pipistrellus. It means that winter roosts of P. pygmaeus remain largely unknown in the area. Similarly, no P. pygmaeus was found in the “invasion” assemblages. Very abundant groups of P. pipistrellus in underground hibernacula and its exclusive occurrence in sites of “invasions” suggest that roosting behaviour during this time may be species-specifi c.
The aim of our study was to assess the seasonal and overnight changes in the flight activity and habitat use of four bat species under the conditions of a sub-mountain town by a detector monitoring. The urban habitats visited from May untill October 1998 – 2000 were divided into three categories: gardens (illuminated or non-illuminated gardens and larger groups of trees), urban habitat (old and new buildings in suburbs and downtown), and water (streams and ponds). Only for Myotis daubentonii was a statistically significant increase in flight activity recorded between the lactation and post-lactation periods. The highest activity of M. daubentonii was recorded in the vicinity of water bodies. The activities of Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Nyctalus noctula were similar in relation to the habitats. Only in Eptesicus serotinus was the activity recorded per habitat type not significantly different. The changes of activity of P. pipistrellus had a bimodal character with the first peak in the 5th and the 6th ten-minutes and the second in the 12th ten-minutes. In N. noctula, activity was characterized by commuting over the urban habitats during the first 0.5 h. Relatively high activity was recorded in E. serotinus during the first 0.5 h in gardens.
A male Myotis alcathoe was identified morphologically among 119 road traffic casualties sampled in 2007 in southern Moravia (Czech Republic). Two additional male M. alcathoe were found among six carcasses collected in 1999 on roads in northern Moravia. Identification of all three specimens was confirmed by sequencing of mtDNA. The first photo of a M. alcathoe mandible is presented. The species, described in 2001, has actually been known from 12 localities within the Czech Republic.
Absence of accuracy in species recognition can lead to inter-specific mating and hybridization. Aside from acoustic signals, bats can also use olfactory signals to search for mates. We compared the level of attractiveness of facial glands scents and urinary scents for discrimination in two cryptic bat species. Both sexes of two sympatric bat species Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus were used as model. Possible sexual preferences using two olfactory signals were studied in a dual choice experiment in a glass Y-maze. Both sexes, without reference to the species, performed lower searching activity in tests with urinary scents than in the case of signals composed of scents of facial glands. Males of both species were able to discriminate and prefer the odour of conspecific females, with small proportion of disassortative choices. Females of both species did not have species-specific preferences. Absence of females’ odour preferences and small proportion of males’ disassortative choices can provide theoretical background for the existence of inter-species hybridization or point at more important role of acoustic signals in pre-mating behaviour.
Silniční doprava ovlivňuje rostlinná a živočišná společenstva během výstavby i po uvedení do provozu. Netopýři se objevují ve studiích vlivu silničního provozu na mortalitu obratlovců zřídka. Příspěvek je zaměřen nejen na konkrétní doklady úhynu netopýrů po srážce s vozidly, ale také na letovou a loveckou aktivitu netopýrů podél silnice a v jejím okolí. and Plant and animal communities are affected both by road construction and road traffic. In studies of road traffic effect on mortality of vertebrates bats have only rarely been mentioned. The article presents both evidence of bat mortality after collision with cars and information on flying and hunting bat activity along roads, as well as in their vicinity.