Parasitism of the Common Eastern Froglet Crinia signifera by flies of the genus Batrachomyia (Diptera: Chloropidae): Parasitism rates and the influence on frog condition

The presence of Batrachomyia larvae was recorded on 13 19 frogs captured in pitfall traps as part of a study on the population ecology of the Common Eastern Froglet Crinia signifera breeding at a pond at Darkes Foresf New South Wales.The body length. body mass and reproductive status of each frog captured were also recorded to compare the physical state of parasitised frogs with unparasitised frogs. Nineteen females and eleven males were recorded with parasites.The body condition (lengthlmass) of parasitised males was significantly less than for unparasitised males, but was not significantly different for female frogs. Females with parasites had a lower mean condition than unparasitised females, but the greater body size of females appears t o reduce the relative effect of the parasite. Fifteen of the parasitised female frogs had oviducal eggs and three were known to have subsequently laid eggs. Hence larvae do not suppress the reproduction of the host frog.