Microchiropterans (or microbats) are smaller. Microbats have large ears in relation to their eyes, rely on echolocation to find their food, and are found worldwide, except in the Antarctic. Although most microbats eat insects, some specialize in drinking nectar, eating fruit, fish, reptiles amphibians, mammals, other bats, and yes, even drinking blood.

Some Common Questions about Bats

What good are bats?
Bats provide humans with many benefits. Microbats eat millions of pounds of insects nightly, saving farmers millions of dollars in pesticides, and saving the average home owner a great deal of money in insect repellent and electricity for running expensive bug zappers.

Because microbats mate in the fall but do not become pregnant until spring, scientists have used certain bat hormones for birth control studies.

Doctors have used the advanced sonar system in bats for work with the blind.

Bat saliva has been used in many studies to treat heart problems.

Along with megabats, microbats that live in the tropics and eat fruit and drink nectar provide the environment with a never-ending supply of genetic diversity, regeneration of rain forest trees, and the pollination of key plant species. Without these bats, we might never see our tropical rain forests regenerate.

How long do bats live?
Different species of bats live different lengths of time. The smaller microbats that hibernate through the winter can live as long as 35 years. That is relatively long considering their small size. Larger bats found in the tropics tend not to live as long, probably because they do not hibernate. These bats can live from 15 to 25 years.

Why do bats hang upside down?
Scientists from all over the world have speculated about this. It is now believed that bats adapted to living in caves as they evolved. In caves, there are no branches or areas in which to sit upright, so bats were forced to hang upside down. If they were to hang by their thumbs, which appears possible at first glance, they would not be able to take off or groom themselves. Another advantage to hanging upside down is that many bats can fit together in a tight cluster, thus conserving body heat. This is especially beneficial to bats during colder periods in winter when they hibernate.

When do bats hibernate?
This depends on the species of bat and the climate in which the bat lives. In southern climes, some bats do not hibernate at all; they simply go in a daily torpor in the winter.

Torpor is a response bats have to cooler temperatures. They are able to drop their body temperature close to the external air temperatures, thus saving energy. In northern climes, colony-roosting bats begin their hibernation as early as October if the weather is cold. Our solitary-roosting bats can withstand cooler temperatures and are sometimes found in more northern areas until November or early December. Solitary-roosting bats are able to wrap their fully furred interfermoral membrane (the tail membrane) tightly around themselves for extra warmth.

Can bats see?
Yes, all bats can see relatively well, some bats better than others. Microbats, which rely

on echolocation, can see well during the day, and about as well as humans at night. Microbats are also thought to be color-blind.

The megabats, which eat fruit or drink nectar from flowers, have exceptionally good color eyesight, similar to the vision of an owl or cat an night. Most megabats lack the ability to echolocate and therefore rely totally on their eyesight when foraging for fruit.

How many types of bats live in North America?
There are roughly 40 different species of bats in North America. These 40 species represent three families. Throughout the world, there are about 1,000 different species of bats. The greatest diversity is found in the tropical rain forests.

What is the biggest bat in the world?
The largest bat in the world is a megabat called the Gigantic Flying Fox, found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and on islands in the Indian Ocean. This bat has a wingspan of 5-6 feet! The principle food source of the gigantic flying fox is fruit, which it chews up, swallowing the juice, and spitting out the pulp and seeds. This seed dispersion helps to reforest vast areas of the tropics.

What is the smallest?
The smallest bat in the world, and perhaps the smallest mammal in the world, is the Kitti's hog-nosed bat. This bat is very rare. About the size of a large bumblebee, it has a weight of less than 1 ounce. The Kitti's hog-nosed bat forages for insects around the canopy of bamboo and teak trees in Thailand.

Do all bats have rabies?
No, not all bats have rabies, just as not all rabbits, raccoons, or foxes have rabies. Rabies is a serious virus that affects the brain tissue of mammals, and although it is true that bats can get rabies, they are not carriers of the virus.

Why are there bats in my attic?
To a bat, a dark, warm attic is just like a natural cave.

What's the best way to get a bat out of my house?
If you have a bat flying around inside your house, the easiest and quickest way to get it out is to open a door or window and calmly sit down to watch and wait for the bat to fly out. you do not have to turn off the lights. If this does not work, throw a soft towel or blanket over the bat and gently place it outside. Remember, bats are small and fragile creatures; they aren't in your house to frighten or harm in any way. They are probably just as scared as you, if not more. Using a tennis racket or any other object to harm a bat is not necessary.

[ info taken from Understanding Bats - A Special Publication from Bird Watcher's Digest ]