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Capture success of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) feeding on mosquitoes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2002

Jens Rydell ,
Doreen Parker McNeill  and
Johan Eklöf
Jens Rydell
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, Göteborg University, Box 463, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
Doreen Parker McNeill
Affiliation:
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701-1599, U.S.A.
Johan Eklöf
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, Göteborg University, Box 463, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
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Abstract

A small colony of little brown bats Myotis lucifugus was observed feeding on mosquitoes (Culicidae) inside a barn near Fairbanks, Alaska in June 2000. Observations were made visually and with a bat detector. All capture attempts were associated with feeding buzzes, indicating that the bats used echolocation to detect and track the insects, although the light was bright and the insects were easily seen by us. The capture efficiency of the bats was 92% (n = 100). The insects did not show any defensive behaviour in response to approaching bats.

Keywords

AlaskaecholocationmosquitoesMyotis lucifuguspredation
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 256 , Issue 3 , March 2002 , pp. 379 - 381
Copyright
2002 The Zoological Society of London

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