Bat Research in Mason
By: KLST Staff
Updated: June 26, 2007
Gary- Higher, higher, and higher. One question that appears is why are they going so high? You watch with your eyes and they disappear from view, then disappear from binoculars, why are they going so high?
Mm- Swarms of billions of migrating insects travel at high altitude and can be detected by Doppler weather radar.
Gary- The bats in this cave eat insects that would be the takeoff weight of a 737 jet. It is an amazing number of insects.
Mm- Each bat eats between one half and two thirds of its body weight every night.
Gary- These are the most destructive insect pests in agriculture. There is a huge array of these insects.
John- The bats come in by intercepting moths that are flying at high altitudes. By doing this, the bats not only provide protection locally, such as in the winter garden of Texas; but further north.
Mm- Bats help corn, cotton, and sorgum farmers by increasing crop yield and reducing insecticide expense.
John- The worms develop into pupae, and the pupae hatch into adults which are moths. When the bats feed on the insects, they consume the abdomen.
Mm- Orchard farmers are installing bat houses which shelter bat species that eat fruit pests.
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