Important agricultural and cotton pests detected in the diet of two threatened insectivorous bats in a cotton agroecosystem: insights from a molecular study

Abstract

<p>Australian insectivorous bats are known to occupy and use resources in agroecosystems, yet little is known about their diets. We analysed a scat sample each from two individual bats, both threatened species (<i>Chalinolobus picatus</i> and <i>Vespadelus baverstocki</i>), in a major dryland cotton production zone. Both bats consumed economically important agricultural and cotton pests such as <i>Helicoverpa sp</i>. (bollworm). Our results suggest that these two bat species share around half of the insect prey resources available whilst consuming a wide range of prey items. This snapshot of dietary data provides further evidence that insectivorous bats consume a wide range of insect prey, including pests in cropping areas.</p>