FOOD HABITS OF SEVEN SPECIES OF BATS IN THE ALLEGHENY PLATEAU AND RIDGE AND VALLEY OF WEST VIRGINIA

Abstract

Abstract We captured 159 bats in the Allegheny Plateau and Ridge and Valley physiographic provinces of West Virginia during summer 1998, including the northern long-eared myotis (Myotis septentrionalis; n = 40), little brown myotis (M. lucifugus; n = 34), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus; n = 29), eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus; n = 27), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis; n = 22), hoary bat (L. cinereus; n = 5), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans; n = 2). We analyzed fecal pellets of each bat to determine food habits. Diets of northern long-eared myotis and eastern red bats were dominated by Coleoptera (42.3 and 24.5%, respectively) and Lepidoptera (31.1 and 47.0%, respectively). Diet of big brown bats primarily consisted of Coleoptera (67.5%). Diet of hoary bats was dominated by Lepidoptera (98%). Diet of silver-haired bats was moderately diverse, but primarily composed of Lepidoptera (47.5%) and Diptera (20.0%). Diets of little brown myotis and eastern pipistrelles were highly...