Food Habits of Cave-Dwelling Bats in the Central Appalachians

Abstract

The food habits of four species of cave-dwelling bats, Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis keenii, M. lucifugus, and Pipistrellus subflavus, were investigated in the central Appalachians. Information was based primarily on analysis of fecal pellets; however, some stomachs also were examined for food items for comparison with the first procedure. Coleopterans and hemipterans occurred in more than 70% of the adult male E. fuscus samples. All of the hemipterans were green stink bugs, Acrosternum hilare. More than 50% of the adult male M. keenii samples contained coleopteran, lepidopteran, and neuropteran fragments. The neuropterans were represented by the Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings). Coleoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera occurred in more than 50% of the adult male M. IUcifugus samples. Fifty percent of the Diptera were midges (Chironomidae). Coleopterans and homopterans were present in more than 50% of the adult male P. subflavus samples. Other important prey items for P. subflavus were dipterans, hymenopterans, and lepidopterans. Adult male M. keenii, M. lucifugus, and P. subflavus captured concurrently differed in their food habits. More male M. keenii samples contained Hemerobiidae and Lepidoptera than did M. IUcifugus or P. subflavus samples, whereas adult male M. lucifugus and P. subflavus took prey from the same insect orders and in approximately the same proportion. In general, adult male E. fuscus appeared to be dietary specialists, whereas adult male M. keenii, M. lucifugus, and P. subflavus appeared more generalized in their diets.

Wing morphology, echolocation calls, diet and emergence time of black-bearded tomb bats (Taphozous melanopogon, Emballonuridae) from southwest China

“…Fecal analysis showed Lepidoptera to be the most common element in the diet, which may suggest that this bat forages for prey opportunistically. However, although beetle-eating is common amongst many different species of insectivorous bats (e.g., Freeman, 1979;Griffith and Gates, 1985;Warner, 1985;Zubaid, 1988), we found that T. mela no pogon consumed hemipteran and dipteran insects disproportionately more, and Coleptera disproportionately less, than expected based on our lighttrapping results. This result suggests that T. me lanopogon may be a somewhat selective or specialized feeder.…”

Foods of Bats (Family Vespertilionidae) at Five Locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts

“…Visual estimation of volume has been the most commonly used method to quantify diet (Moosman et al 2012) and it was used to facilitate comparison with the greatest number of studies (Whitaker 1972;Whitaker et al 1981;Griffith and Gates 1985;Whitaker and Lawhead 1992;Whitaker 1995;Agosta and Morton 2003;Carter et al 2003;Whitaker 2004;Whitaker and Barnard 2005;Johnson and Gates 2007;Moosman et al 2007;Feldhamer et al 2009). …”

“…Most authors have defined guild structure according to differential prey utilization (Whitaker 1972;Kunz 1973;Black 1974;Whitaker et al 1981;Griffith and Gates 1985;Warner 1985;Carter et al 2003;Whitaker 2004;and Feldhamer et al 2009). However, comparing results across studies is difficult because of variation in both bat diet and study methodology.…”

“…The presence of Eastern Small-footed Myotis and the rarity of the Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) in northeastern North America make this particular community unique among dietary studies, as does its lack of Indiana Myotis (Myotis sodalis). Although others have examined the diets of bat communities containing some of the same species in other localities (e.g., Griffith and Gates 1985;Carter et al 2003;Whitaker 2004;and Feldhamer et al 2009) there have been no comprehensive dietary studies of bat communities in New England.…”

Feeding Habits of the Endangered Ozark Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens) Relative to Prey Abundance

“…Studies have examined diets of insectivorous bats in North America (e.g., Whitaker and Tomich, 1983;Belwood and Fullard, 1984;Brack and LaVal, 1985;Griffith and Gates, 1985;Warner, 1985;Dalton et al, 1986), but feeding habits of several species have not been described. Confirmation of the feeding habits of C. t. ingens could not only add more insight to the allotonic frequency hypothesis but also enhance conservation of this endangered North American bat (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1995).…”