New record of Alectopsylla unisetosa (Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae) from Patagonia

Abstract

Alectopsylla unisetosa (Ischnopsyllidae) from Santa Cruz province represents the second report of the species after 45 years. This new distributional record extends this species distribution 1350 km further south than previously documented. Moreover, Alectopsylla unisetosa infesting Myotis chiloensis constitutes a new flea–host association. This finding provides new insights into the biogeography and host associations within the family Ischnopsyllidae.