A RANGE-WIDE ECTOPARASITE SURVEY FOR ALLEGHENY WOODRATS (NEOTOMA MAGISTER)

Area of Science:

• Zoology
• Parasitology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) are declining in many areas, with parasitism and habitat fragmentation cited as causes.
• The range-wide prevalence and impact of ectoparasites on Allegheny woodrats remain poorly understood.
• Ectoparasites can significantly affect the health and survival of vulnerable woodrat populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive survey of ectoparasites affecting Allegheny woodrats across their range.
• To identify the species and prevalence of fleas, ticks, and bot flies parasitizing Allegheny woodrats.
• To establish a baseline understanding of ectoparasite diversity and potential health impacts on this species.

Main Methods:

• Collected ectoparasites from Allegheny woodrats across eight states within their geographic range.
• Utilized both morphological identification and genetic analysis to identify collected parasite species.
• Compared findings with existing databases and literature to establish new state records and clarify taxonomic uncertainties.

Main Results:

• Identified two woodrat-specific fleas: Orchopeas pennsylvanicus (found in all states) and Epitedia cavernicola (Indiana only).
• Orchopeas pennsylvanicus represents a new state record for New Jersey and Ohio.
• The dominant tick species was the woodrat specialist Ixodes woodi, alongside generalist species like Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, and Ixodes scapularis. Two bot fly species were identified, with one unidentified Cuterebra sp.

Conclusions:

• This survey provides a crucial range-wide baseline of ectoparasite diversity in Allegheny woodrats.
• Fleas show high host specificity, while ticks are a mix of specialist and generalist species.
• Understanding ectoparasite impacts is vital for the conservation of Allegheny woodrats, especially given evidence of bot fly-induced mortality.