Prey consumed by Corynorhinus townsendii ingens in the Ozark Mountain region

Abstract

ABSTRACT Moths are known to be the primary prey of the Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens); however, data do not exist as to which species, families, and sizes of moths are eaten. We investigated patterns of prey consumption of C. t. ingens from 2003 to 2005 by collecting discarded moth wings and other insect parts beneath roosts in three maternity areas: north-central Arkansas, northwest Arkansas, and northeast Oklahoma. A total of 42 visits to roosts resulted in 579 remnants of insect prey representing eight insect orders. Of the discarded remains, 57.2% (n = 331) were Lepidoptera, with 81.3% (n = 269) of these identified beyond the ordinal level. Moths representing eight families and 49 species were eaten by C. t. ingens. Noctuidae was the most common family occurring in the diet with 25 species represented. Noctuidae and Notodontidae were typical prey of C. t. ingens in all areas, but consumption of other moth families varied. Corynorhinus t. ingens preyed upon a limited size range of...