Food Habits of Cave-Dwelling Bats in the Central Appalachians

Abstract

The food habits of four species of cave-dwelling bats, Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis keenii, M. lucifugus, and Pipistrellus subflavus, were investigated in the central Appalachians. Information was based primarily on analysis of fecal pellets; however, some stomachs also were examined for food items for comparison with the first procedure. Coleopterans and hemipterans occurred in more than 70% of the adult male E. fuscus samples. All of the hemipterans were green stink bugs, Acrosternum hilare. More than 50% of the adult male M. keenii samples contained coleopteran, lepidopteran, and neuropteran fragments. The neuropterans were represented by the Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings). Coleoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera occurred in more than 50% of the adult male M. lucifugus samples. Fifty percent of the Diptera were midges (Chironomidae). Coleopterans and homopterans were present in more than 50% of the adult male P. subflavus samples. Other important prey items for P. subflavus were dipterans, hymenopterans, and lepidopterans. Adult male M. keenii, M. lucifugus, and P. subflavus captured concurrently differed in their food habits. More male M. keenii samples contained Hemerobiidae and Lepidoptera than did M. lucifugus or P. subflavus samples, whereas adult male M. lucifugus and P. subflavus took prey from the same insect orders and in approximately the same proportion. In general, adult male E. fuscus appeared to be dietary specialists, whereas adult male M. keenii, M. lucifugus, and P. subflavus appeared more generalized in their diets.