Las variaciones temporales en la estructura y composición de las comunidades de murciélagos cavernícolas neotropicales a escala local se atribuyen predominantemente a interacciones intra e interespecíficas que ocurren durante la actividad fuera del refugio. Sin embargo, tales análisis con frecuencia omiten las interacciones antagónicas que tienen lugar dentro del refugio. En esta investigación se examina cómo procesos a nivel poblacional, como la reproducción, pueden influir en la estructura de la comunidad. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si los cambios en la abundancia relativa a lo largo de las diferentes etapas del ciclo reproductivo generan variaciones en la diversidad alfa dentro de la comunidad. Las capturas mensuales se realizaron durante 15 meses de muestreo, de marzo de 2016 a abril de 2017, en una comunidad de murciélagos que se refugia en la cueva El Vado de la Chachalaca, en Veracruz, México. Los murciélagos fueron capturados mediante trampas de arpa. Durante cada mes de muestreo se registraron las etapas reproductivas de cada especie y se correlacionaron con la abundancia relativa y los atributos de diversidad alfa. Nuestros resultados mostraron que procesos reproductivos, como la cópula, generan incrementos temporales en la abundancia de especies dentro de la comunidad, los cuales se asocian con una disminución en la diversidad (de septiembre a diciembre, H′ = 0.63 ± 0.34) y un aumento en la dominancia (D = 0.68 ± 0.22) dentro del refugio. En contraste, los periodos de gestación y lactancia tienden a homogeneizar la diversidad (de enero a mayo, H′ = 0.85 ± 0.37) y a reducir la dominancia comunitaria (D = 0.60 ± 0.20). Además, se observó una relación negativa significativa entre el número y la variedad de procesos reproductivos y la riqueza de especies dentro del refugio (r2 = 0.53, p = 0.002), explicada por interacciones competitivas intra e interespecíficas antagónicas por los sitios óptimos de descanso, los cuales son críticos para el éxito reproductivo. Este estudio demuestra cómo procesos poblacionales, como la reproducción, determinan la estructura comunitaria de los murciélagos cavernícolas neotropicales.
Artibeus fimbriatus, a widely distributed frugivorous bat species in the Neotropics, represents a compelling yet still understudied model for investigating oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms in a non-traditional mammalian system. This study examined redox balance and organ-specific adaptations in essential organs of A. fimbriatus through an integrated analysis of body mass, organ mass, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activities, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and correlation patterns across the brain, heart, kidney, and lung. Our results revealed pronounced organ-specific variation in oxidative stress susceptibility and antioxidant defenses, underscoring ecological relevance and adaptive specialization in frugivorous bats. A comparative analysis with Sturnira lilium further highlighted species-specific differences in redox profiles. These findings advance our understanding of oxidative stress biology and its implications for organismal health, emphasizing adaptive resilience mechanisms in bat physiology.
is growing evidence that cryptic lineages exist in many morphologically conservative species of bats. It is, however, challenging to assign a meaningful taxonomic rank to these lineages, as species delineation is often complicated by conflicting data sets. Conflicting data sets may result from different types of characters (e.g. phenotypic versus genotypic) or even from different compartments of the genotype (e.g. mitochondrial versus nuclear markers). Historical, demographic or selective factors may be invoked to explain discrepancies, but final decisions regarding the species status of each lineage are often dependent on appropriate geographic and genetic sampling.The cryptic myotis (Myotis crypticus) is a typical example where morphological characters can barely differentiate it from its sister species the Natterer's bat (M. nattereri) yet mitochondrial and nuclear markers apparently show only very localized evidence of ongoing introgression between them. We used an array of 11 highly variable microsatellite markers genotyped in 320 individuals from 22 populations sampled across Western Europe to investigate more precisely population structure and the porosity of interspecific barriers in this species complex. Results based on Bayesian and multivariate assignment of individual nuclear genotypes suggest that M. crypticus and M. nattereri are hardly connected by recent gene flow, confirming their status as evolutionarily distinct species. However, local mitonuclear discordance indicates that ancient introgression occurred when these formerly allopatric species entered secondary contact during postglacial range expansions across the Alps. At the intraspecific level, Natterer's bat (M. nattereri) exhibits low genetic structuring across Western Europe, consistent with prior evidence of recent population expansion. In contrast, populations of Cryptic Myotis display pronounced western and eastern genetic differentiation reflecting the influence of Iberian and Apennine glacial refugia from which these bats likely recolonized more northerly regions.
The lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) is an endangered migratory species that feeds primarily on nectar and pollen from agaves, ceibas, and columnar cacti, as well as on the fruits of these cacti. While several maternity colonies have been documented in the Sonoran Desert, little is known about the transient roosts this species uses during migration. From March to September 2015, we investigated an abandoned mine near the coastal village of El Colorado, Sonora, which served as a temporary roost for a colony of L. yerbabuenae. We developed two topographic maps of the roost and installed temperature sensors in two tunnel roosting areas, which recorded mean temperatures of 29.6 degrees C and 27.9 degrees C. Bat numbers increased from March to April, peaking at approximately 1,000 pregnant females before declining. Guano analysis showed that the nectarivorous diet consisted predominantly of columnar cactus pollen (86%) and, to a lesser extent, agave pollen (7%), while the frugivorous component consisted exclusively of seeds from organ pipe cactus (Stenocereus thurberi). In April, a human-induced fire within the roost resulted in the death of several bats. Our findings suggest that the El Colorado mine may function as a critical transient roost during migration and should be protected from human disturbance.
The Indian flying fox (Pteropus medius), the largest of four fruit bat species found in Nepal, is endemic to South Asia and has recently been classified as 'Near Threatened' on the global conservation status due to growing threats to its survival. This species plays a vital ecological role in pollinating and dispersing seeds of 26 families of flowering plants in Nepal. The majority of the known roosts are located outside protected areas in human dominated landscapes, which are vulnerable to land use changes and climate change, but these impacts have yet to be evaluated. The roosts of P. medius are distributed within elevations of 75 to 1,322 meters above sea level (a.s.l.), spanning the Tarai, Chure, Inner Tarai, and Middle Mountain regions, with records primarily from the central Middle Mountain and no documentation from the eastern and western parts. Based on the occurrence data of 44 roosts, 12 low correlated bioclimatic variables and land-use data (r < 0.75), we ran an ensemble of machine learning algorithms in R using the 'sdm' package. Altogether, four variables - including urban land, mean diurnal range, annual mean temperature, and precipitation of the wettest month - emerged as significant predictors. The current potential distribution of the species spans 7,836 km2, approximately 5% of Nepal's total land area. Based on future climate scenarios SSP 4.5 and SSP 8.5, our projections indicate that the species' range will significantly expand within elevations of 500-1,500 m a.s.l. in the Inner Tarai and Middle Mountain regions, while contracting in lower elevations below 500 m a.s.l. in the Tarai and Chure regions. Since roosting colonies are mainly located in settlements and farmlands, the study's findings can help guide regular monitoring and health surveillance of these colonies. Conservation efforts should prioritize the protection of native, broad leaved tall trees and implement systematic roost monitoring to safeguard existing populations.
The ongoing conversion of tropical forests into anthropogenic landscapes has raised concerns about biodiversity conservation and the maintenance of ecosystem services. In this study, we evaluated bat species composition and trophic guilds across three land-use types in the Brazilian Amazon: forest fragments, regeneration areas, and agroforestry cacao plantations. Using mist nets, we recorded a total of 71 bat species, with marked differences among habitats. Forest fragments showed the highest diversity and richness, dominated by specialized insectivores and omnivores from the subfamily Phyllostominae, which are indicators of wellpreserved habitats. Regeneration areas, although less diverse, harbored high abundances of frugivorous and nectarivorous species associated with pioneer plants, playing an important role in seed dispersal and pollination. Cacao plantations exhibited an intermediate species composition, with partial overlaps with both forest fragments and regeneration areas, including frugivores, nectarivores, and edge insectivores. The presence of rare and sensitive species, such as Scleronycteris ega and Rhogeessa hussoni, found exclusively in forest fragments, highlights the value of these remnants for conservation. Additionally, we observed that bats contribute to the biological control of agricultural pests, providing economic benefits and reducing the need for pesticide use. These findings demonstrate that different land-use types support distinct species assemblages and ecological functions. While forest fragments are irreplaceable for specialized species, regeneration areas and cacao plantations play complementary roles, particularly when managed with low disturbance and high structural heterogeneity. Maintaining a mosaic landscape that includes all these environments is crucial for conserving bat biodiversity and sustaining ecosystem services in the Amazon.
The tricoloured big-eared bat, Glyphonycteris sylvestris (family Phyllostomidae), is a species frequent in bat surveys of certain Neotropical regions, but rarely recorded in the fragmented forests of eastern South America. The extent to which this lack of records is driven by the species' abiotic niche or its sensitivity to the forest loss observed in the region remains unclear. Here, inspired by new records we have made in the southern Atlantic Forest - including the southernmost - we investigated the role of climate and forest cover in the geographic distribution of G. sylvestris. Using our primary records and data from an extensive literature search, we fitted species distribution models with ecological variables at 1 km2 resolution, while accounting for sampling biases common in opportunistic data. We then used this model to predict the species' distribution in South America under different scenarios of climate and forest cover availability. Our results suggest that both climate and forest cover shape G. sylvestris rarity in eastern South America. Although our model predicts low climatic suitability for drier regions such as the Caatinga and Chaco, it also suggests that this species could be frequent in the Atlantic Forest and in forest formations of the Cerrado if most landscapes had not been altered by human activities in these regions. Our study elucidates the southern distribution limits of G. sylvestris, highlights its vulnerability to habitat loss, and reinforces the importance of landscapes with high forest cover to maintain South American bat diversity.
Increasing urban development is moving into natural spaces leading to habitat loss and fragmentation. Understanding and mitigating these anthropogenic pressures is a critical conservation priority. Road networks cause large scale disturbance by fragmenting habitats to connect urban areas. Previous research has indicated that bat activity along forest roads differs depending on road surface type, reporting higher bat activity over paved roads compared to unpaved ones. This suggests an increased collision risk for bats, as paved roads likely experience higher traffic volumes. Our study explores the effect of forest road surface type (paved vs. unpaved) on bats in the Bia & lstrok;owie & zdot;a Forest, Poland. We acoustically sampled bat activity using static detectors at 16 sites, between June and July 2024. We found no significant differences between paved and unpaved forest roads in total bat activity (based on combined call sequences), species richness or at any foraging guild level. We conclude that road surface type is not a determining factor influencing bat activity in ecologically high-value forest habitats. Although the influence of surrounding habitat characteristics was not significant, their effects were variable; therefore, we recommend that future research incorporate a broader range of habitat variables at different spatial scales.
Morphological variation of living beings is influenced both by intrinsic qualities of the species and by their ecological interactions. Studying intraspecific patterns of morphological variation provides valuable insights into how populations are organized in response to selective environmental pressures. The lesser dog-like bat, Peropteryx macrotis, is a widely distributed species in the Neotropics; however, its behavioral traits, feeding habits, and morphology have been poorly studied. We applied a two-dimensional geometric morphometric protocol to assess skull shape and size variation in P. macrotis across different biomes in Mexico and Central America, examining its relationship with climatic and geographic variables, their ecological implications, and the expression of sexual dimorphism in these traits. Significant differences in cranium and mandible shape and size were found between sexes, among biomes, and across climatic conditions, mainly driven by spatial effects. A low allometric effect was detected, and size did not show significant interactions with any other variable. The greatest morphological variation was found in the rostrum, maxilla, and mandible, structures mainly associated with prey capture and chewing. Our results indicate that variation in skull morphology of P. macrotis across Mexico and Central America is influenced primarily by spatial and climatic factors, with biomes playing a secondary role. These patterns suggest that the species exhibits geographically structured morphological responses consistent with environmental variation, possibly reflecting phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation. Overall, skull variation in P. macrotis appears to facilitate the efficient exploitation of food resources under contrasting environmental conditions.
Asymmetry provides a valuable framework to examine how organisms regulate their responses to environmental variability, offering insights into patterns of developmental stability at the population level. While Neotropical bats exhibit notable morphological diversity, few studies have explored asymmetry in wing structures, which are crucial for flight performance. This study analyzed asymmetry in 1,177 individuals from 18 bat species representing different guilds, focusing on forearm length and 11 wing structures. Comparisons of asymmetry across species, correlations among wing elements, and potential sexual dimorphism were evaluated using non-parametric tests, including Kruskal-Wallis test for interspecific differences, Spearman's rank correlation for structural relationships, and Mann-Whitney U-test for sex-related variation. Results revealed that asymmetry significantly differs among wing regions and species. Most traits displayed directional asymmetry, generally biased toward the right side. Although individual bone elements tended to contribute to overall digit asymmetry, this pattern was not consistent. Notably, the first phalanges of digits III, IV, and V showed no correlation with the total asymmetry of their respective digits. This decoupling may reflect functional or developmental constraints, potentially involving modular developmental organization or internal compensatory mechanisms. Patterns of asymmetry were consistent between sexes, with similar asymmetry trends observed in both males and females, possibly reflecting isometric growth patterns previously reported in bats. These findings offer new insights into the ecomorphological variation of bat wings and highlight the complexity of developmental regulation across species.
The concept of specialization was developed as a species-level attribute, however specialization can be extended to any ecological level (e.g. individual, population, species and community). For insectivorous bats, it has been suggested that seasonally available resources may influence dietary changes, leading to short-term dietary specializations. We hypothesized that the diet of females of Pteronotus mesoamericanus would become specialized during the reproductive season. The study was conducted in the Sima del & Oacute;rgano cave (municipality of El Parral, Chiapas, M & eacute;xico) from January to December 2022. Adult bats in different reproductive and non-reproductive stages were captured, while excreta samples were collected for dietary analysis. The results showed that P. mesoamericanus females formed a maternity colony from March to October, and the overall diet consisted of seven orders of Arthropoda, and one undetermined taxon. For pregnant females, the overall diet was mainly composed by Arthropoda from the order Coleoptera (90%); during lactation it was composed by the orders Coleoptera (48%) and Lepidoptera (45%), and during the non-reproductive season by Coleoptera (59%), Lepidoptera (22%) and Diptera (16%). In non-reproductive males, the diet was mainly composed by Coleoptera (50%), Lepidoptera (29%), and Diptera (12%). Our hypothesis confirmed that diet specialization only occurred for pregnant females, with narrower niche breadth and selection for the consumption of coleoptera, indicating dietary specialization.
Acoustic techniques have been frequently applied in field surveys as they offer a rapid and non-invasive approach in studying bats. More importantly, bioacoustics has been invaluable in identifying rare and morphologically cryptic bat species and providing additional data for resolving the taxonomy of species complexes. In the Philippines, however, automated call identification is still hindered by the lack of a robust call library, inter- and intraspecific variability in echolocation calls of many species, and the substantial time needed for manual acoustic data analysis. In this study, we developed a call identification key using over 34,000 reference calls recorded from eight Rhinolophus sonotypes in Luzon. Several call parameters were extracted and utilized to construct classification trees for species differentiation. Rules generated from the trees were used to construct the call identification key. Testing and subsequent refinement of the key resulted in overall 93.0% and 97.5% correct classification rates when tested against an independent set of reference call sequences and set of unknown calls recorded from free-flying bats, respectively. Assessment of morphometrics and acoustic parameters also revealed the presence of distinct small and large size morphs within R. macrotis and R. philippinensis, each echolocating at distinct frequencies. Our results emphasize the reliability of the call identification key for automated field identification of morphologically similar bat species and detection of potential novel cryptic species.
Insectivorous bats feed on large quantities and a wide diversity of insects each night, sometimes exerting control on populations of insects, several of which are potential disease vectors or pests on crops. However, current knowledge regarding diets of numerous species of bats is limited. We analyzed the diets of insectivorous bats and variations in diets among species, between seasons, and between sexes in a region dominated by tropical deciduous forest in central Mexico. We captured 112 insectivorous bats of nine species using mist nets during four sampling periods in 2008. Contents of feces (n = 1,089) and stomachs (n = 32) were examined, and recovered insect fragments were identified to the level of order. Insects from the orders Lepidoptera (27.6% based on the percent of total dried mass of remains in fecal samples), Coleoptera (20.3%), and Hemiptera (12.0%) were the most prominent items in diets. Balantiopteryx plicata consumed mainly Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Homoptera; Mormoops megalophylla: Lepidoptera; Pteronotus mexicanus: Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera; Pteronotus psilotis: Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Coleoptera; Pteronotus fulvus: Coleoptera; Macrotus waterhousii and Molossus nigricans: Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera; Myotis velifer: Trichoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera; and Rhogeessa parvula: Coleoptera. New insect orders were found as part of the diets of seven of the nine bat species studied, thus expanding known dietary diversity. In a four-species comparison in the rainy season, bats of the family Mormoopidae (Mormoops megalophylla andP. mexicanus) had similar diets, while those in Emballonuridae (B. plicata) and Vespertilionidae (Myotis velifer) consumed similar insects. In the dry season, diets of five bat species exhibited greater diversity, with the main distinction being that B. plicata had a diet notably different from the other four species.
Herein we describe the first Chrotopterus auritus roosts reported in Paraguay. All roosts were located via three radio-telemetered bats, occurred as cavities in massive trees, and found in the Reserva Natural del Bosque Mbaracay & uacute; in the Canindey & uacute; Department. The two males and one female were tracked for an average of 35 days and exhibited an average roost switching frequency of 22%. We further compiled 48 records, spanning nearly a century, on C. auritus habitat use. Of those reports, we compared epigean (above ground) and hypogean (below ground) roosts across an elevational gradient, but found no significant difference. Further research into the habitat selection factors of wildlife is particularly needed, as some classic frameworks seemed less reliable when reexamined in the tropics.
The number of recognized bat species has increased rapidly in the recent years, mainly as the result of integrative approaches anchored on new molecular data sets. In many cases, species with wide distributional areas were found to harbour cryptic taxa. This applies to the Southeast Asian genera Glischropus and Tylonycteris which originally comprised only two species each. Currently, both genera are thought to include five and six species, respectively. Our karyological analyses from Glischropus and Tylonycteris specimens collected from Borneo revealed profound differences among conspecifics from the Peninsular Malaysia. The Bornean G. tylopus with 2n = 26 in the female karyotype differs clearly from the 2n = 31/30 (male/female) chromosomal complement observed in specimens from Peninsular Malaysia. Similarly, the T. pachypus specimen from Borneo with 2n = 30 is cytogenetically distinct from the 2n = 46 karyotype found in specimens from Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. These findings challenge the assumption that Tylonycteris fulvida which showed 2n = 30 in Chinese specimens is present in Peninsular Malaysia. By incorporating data from the literature, we provide an updated chromosomal phylogeny for the genus Tylonycteris highlighting the need for further taxonomic revisions in the group.
Populations of wide-ranging species on the edge of their geographic range may experience environmental conditions unlike those of conspecifics from the core of the range. We conducted a study on the diet of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) near the northern edge of their range in Alaska, USA, using molecular fecal dietary techniques and compared these results to a previous diet study using microscopic analysis of the same samples. Molecular dietary analysis suggested that M. lucifugus in this population rely heavily on flies (Diptera), moths (Lepidoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera). Our results are consistent with other studies in the insect orders eaten but differ in the relative importance of those orders compared with molecular analyses of diet from M. lucifugus populations nearer the core species range. Our results also contrast with microscopic assessments of diet from these Alaskan samples, which identified spiders (Araneae) as the primary prey item for this population. Importantly, our study demonstrates how different types of analyses can yield different characterizations of diet, even from the same samples.
The '& omacr;pe'ape'a, also known as the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; family Vespertilionidae), is a solitary, insectivorous, foliage-roosting endemic species. Over a three-year period, we investigated day-roost lability and fidelity of 35 bats at 52 roosts (for a total of 544 days of observation), and roost emergence and return patterns of 46 bats at 50 roosts (for a total of 277 days of observation). '& Omacr;pe'ape'a exhibited low roost lability, typically using few roosts and switching roosts infrequently. Juveniles and reproductive females exhibited particularly low lability, whereas non-reproductive adults, especially males, displayed higher lability. Roost fidelity was generally high, with most bats consistently returning to the same roost or set of roosts. We also evaluated longterm use of roosts at 20 trees from 2019 to 2022. Six roost trees were used over a span of at least 180 days, and of these, three were used by multiple individuals that included maternity groups. We documented a maternity 'cluster' composed of multiple neighboring roosts used by different mother-pup groups and solitary bats during the same reproductive season. Measures of day-roost emergence times, nocturnal period spent at roosts, and number of nighttime departures showed high variability, were not significantly different among sex or reproductive groups and exhibited no seasonal trends. The study demonstrated that '& omacr;pe'ape'a generally remain at the same day-roost for extended periods, unlike other tree-dwelling species, particularly lasiurines. The findings also suggest that individuals may prioritize familiar roosts and home range resources over exploring new roosts, potentially due to the permanence of suitable foliage roosts and predator avoidance strategies.
The thumbless bat (Furipterus horrens) is a small insectivorous bat endemic to the New World tropics. It roosts mainly in caves, and due to its broadband modulation and low-intensity echolocation calls, F. horrens is rarely detected in acoustic monitoring and, overall acoustic data and the natural history of this species are poorly known. Based on data collected from May 2021 to December 2024 we herein describe the echolocation pulses of individuals of F. horrens while emerging from their cave roosts located in the Caraj & aacute;s National Forest, eastern Amazonia, Brazil. We also originally describe and analyze audible clicks regularly emitted by F. horrens inside these cave roosts. The pulses had a stepped, broadband, modulated frequency structure, and we identified two sonotypes for the species' echolocation pulses. Both sonotypes had the highest Fmax frequencies reported for this species and also the highest Fmax compared to all other echolocating Neotropical bat species (> 200 kHz). The duration of the pulses, their slope, and duty cycle had fall within expected intervals for the species, but the bandwidth varied in both sonotypes, possibly related to the low intensity of the calls. We found differences in four parameters tested between bats flying inside a tent and free-flying individuals, suggesting that acoustic behavior may vary depending on the environments and circumstances. Clicks were short (5.5 +/- 4.7 ms) and broad-banded (35.3 kHz), ranging from frequencies of 3.0 +/- 1.2 kHz (Fmin) and 39.4 kHz (Fmax), which covers most of the human audible spectrum. We hypothesize that clicks may work as alarm sounds produced with the bats' wings, and that this action may be triggered by threats, such as predators and have a communicative origin rather than an echolocating pulse for navigation. The recognition of the clicking behavior may assist researchers in detecting F. horrens inside caves, potentially making it a complementary and effective strategy to the use of mist nets and passive acoustic monitoring.
Insectivorous bats play an essential role in suppressing pests and controlling disease vectors, yet their dietary habits remain understudied in Nepal. Thus far, there have been three theses and a single study on insectivorous bat diets from the country. To address this gap, guano samples collected during bat surveys from March 2020 to March 2023 in four regions: Shivapuri Nagarjun Bajrabarahi Forest (Lalitpur District), were analyzed. The diet composition of ten bat species from four families: Rhinolophidae (Rhinolophus pusillus, R. sinicus), Miniopteridae (Miniopterus fuliginosus), Hipposideridae (Hipposideros gentilis), and assessed, with the diets of M. csorbai, M. sicarius, and S. caliginosus documented for the first time. Dietary analysis of 176 guano pellets revealed the presence of seven insect orders, with Diptera and Lepidoptera detected in all samples, followed by Coleoptera (80%), Neuroptera (40%), Hemiptera (30%), Psocodea (20%), and Hymenoptera (20%). A single mite (Acari) was also detected, likely ingested incidentally during grooming or alongside prey. Percentage volume analyses revealed species-specific foraging preferences among insectivorous bats, complementing frequency data. Hipposideros gentilis showed a marked preference for Lepidoptera (83.8%), while M. fuliginosus, R. lepidus, and P. coromandra also favored Lepidoptera, though to a lesser extent (43.5%, 46.0%, and 39.4%, respectively). Rhinolophus affinis consumed only Diptera, which also dominated the diets of R. pusillus (48.6%), P. javanicus (40.0%), an unidentified Pipistrellus species (37.0%), M. csorbai (56.2%), another unidentified Myotis species (68.8%), and S. caliginosus (56.0%). In contrast, R. sinicus and M. sicarius had diets dominated by Coleoptera (61.0% and 50.5%, respectively), with M. sicarius exhibiting the broadest dietary range, consuming all seven identified insect orders. These dietary compositions suggest that the studied bat species employ diverse foraging strategies, including aerial hawking, foliage gleaning, ground gleaning, and trawling. The presence of mosquitoes in the diet of M. fuliginosus, R. lepidus, R. pusillus, P. javanicus, Pipistrellus sp., M. csorbai, M. sicarius, Myotis sp., and S. caliginosus; pests from the families Miridae and Aphididae in the diet of R. lepidus and Pipistrellus sp.; and scarab beetles in the diet of R. sinicus, P. javanicus, Pipistrellus sp., M. csorbai, M. sicarius, and S. caliginosus underscores the role of bats in regulating disease vectors and agricultural pests. Such findings are essential for fostering positive attitudes toward bats among local communities - an important step toward ensuring their long-term conservation in Nepal, where their ecological and economic benefits are often overlooked.
