Free-ranging Van Gelder’s batBauerus dubiaquercus(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) preying on dung beetles in southern Mexico

Abstract

We report the first prey species consumed by the free-ranging Van Gelder’s bat Bauerus dubiaquercus. We trapped four pregnant individuals of this species carrying freshly captured dung beetles. We describe the wing morphology and flight descriptors (wing loading and wing aspect ratio) of the species, which presents wings more suitable for capturing insects by aerial hawking, although the evidence suggests that is able to capture dung beetles of nearly 10% of its body mass in flight close to the ground. The species could obtain their prey while foraging on uncluttered pasture near forest edges.

Are Animal Disease Reservoirs at Risk of Human Antiviral Exposure?

“…These investigations would be improved by better understanding the dietary range and foraging ecology of insectivorous bats. While many insectivorous bat species are generalist foragers, for example, others specialize on insects whose larvae do not develop in aquatic environments (e.g., dung beetles 49 ), and variation in bat diets likely mediates their exposure to antivirals through prey. Increased understanding of the antiviral toxicokinetic properties, especially uptake rates and elimination efficiencies, in bats and insects is also needed.…”

Spillover of human antivirals may promote resistant pathogens in animal reservoirs

“…Our understanding of this background risk will be furthered by better understanding the dietary range and foraging ecology of insectivorous bats, which also remain understudied. While many insectivorous bat species are generalist foragers, e.g., (Brooke 1994), others specialize on insects whose larvae do not develop in aquatic environments (e.g., dung beetles, (Aguilar-Rodríguez et al 2022)) and this variation in bat diets likely mediates both the degree and the phenology of their exposure to antivirals through their prey. Increased understanding of the antiviral toxicokinetic properties, especially uptake rates and elimination efficiencies, in bats and insects is also needed.…”