Abstract

In laboratory, some food of fruits, vegetables and field crops were tested under non- and free choice to determine the food palatability and preference for the Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus. This is prefatorily to be used as poisoned bait. The obtained results elucidate that generally, under non-choice field crops record, the low palatable was the wheat (the consumption was zero %). While the fruits palatability ranked firstly then vegetables. The average percent of daily consumption of each food group field crops, vegetables and fruits were 10, 30 and 58% respectively. Bats preferred guava, apple, date, tomato and carrot respectively. The toxic effect of compressed date of 5.0, 1, 1.5 and 0.2% zinc phosphide caused mortality ratios of 30, 60, 100 and 100% to each concentration respectively. On the other hand, the bait consumption was reduced with increased concentration. So, Apple and Guava used as bait with zinc phosphide rodenticide 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% to enhance the bait consumption and the results showed that the apple bait was more effective against fruit bat compared with guava and compressed date baits. Also, the concentration of 1.0% zinc phosphide with apple caused 100% mortality compared with the same concentration of guava and compressed date where the mortality was 70 and 60% and the average bait consumption was 15.3, 20.4 and 10.9g respectively.

Highlights

  • Bats have the highest number of mammals after rodents

  • Apple and Guava used as bait with zinc phosphide rodenticide 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% to enhance the bait consumption and the results showed that the apple bait was more effective against fruit bat compared with guava and compressed date baits

  • The Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus is regarded as a pest for agriculture in Israel and feed mainly on fruits sometimes leaves and pollen are eaten

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Summary

Introduction

Bats have the highest number of mammals after rodents (approximately 925 species). among living vertebrates, bats and birds are unique in their ability to fly. Bats exhibit a dietary diversity as, fruits, leaves, flowers, nectar, pollen, insects, fish, blood and other vertebrates. The Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus (Order: Chiroptera, family: Pteropodidae) is considered an agricultural pest (Kock, 2001). On a mass-specific basis, this is about double the amount reported for neotropical fruits bats (Phyllostomidae). The Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus is regarded as a pest for agriculture in Israel and feed mainly on fruits sometimes leaves and pollen are eaten. Other researchers reported that bats feed wide kinds of plant (54 plant species) according to plant availability and quality, season need of energy and protein (Feldhamer et al, 1995; Kunz and Diaz, 1995; Bizerril and Raw, 1998; Luft et al, 2003).

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