Beyond the Myths: How Bats Help Feed and Protect Us

Friends who would help bring fruits and disperse seeds silently, who help you protect your crops from insects and do it all for free!

Yes, Bats are one of greatest allies of humans in the animal world. Without bats, we would have fewer fruits and far more insects.

As pollinators, insect controllers and our benefactors it is truly sad that they are still looked at with such disdain. Stories of vampires and witchcraft associates them with superstitions and omens, ruined the reputation of these beautiful, hard-working, and beneficial creatures.

As with everything, the more you understand, the less you fear it, so let’s try to understand them better so that we can help them and help ourselves by doing that.

First let’s get Bat basics right.

Bats are one of the oldest creatures, found all over the earth, for over 50 million years.  Bats are the only mammals on Earth that can fly. They are known nocturnal, but they don’t always function in dark. Many species of bats that live in habitats free from predators, usually on islands, have been observed flying and hunting for insects in broad daylight.

Bats are excellent fliers. It’s common for bats to reach speeds of up to over 95 km/h (60 miles per hour). Bats hang upside down to assist them in their take-offs into flight. Since using their legs for walking and taking off isn’t the strong suit for most bats, they drop down from tree branches and cave ceilings to build velocity.

Echolocation bat’s most famous tool is a unique way of mapping out their environment. By sending out 10 to 20 high-pitched ‘beeps’ a second, bats can build an incredibly detailed, three-dimensional map of their surroundings by listening to the reverberations.

Scientists have observed that smaller species of bats rely the most on echolocation, while larger bats, like the flying fox, have less trouble navigating with their vision.

Contrary to general belief, bats aren’t entirely blind. Although they do rely heavily on echolocation to get a better idea of their environment, most bats’ eyes work fine, although they can be extremely sensitive to light.

Bats can be divided in two groups depending on their feeding habits, insectivorous bats and fruit and nectar bats. Bats visit flowers for insects and nectar, which makes them perfect pollinators. Frugivorous bats prefer feeding on ripe fruits and thus contribute to seed dispersal and to forest regeneration.