Why Bats?
Why Bats?
Bats are mainly either insect controllers or forest-makers
They belong to the order Chiroptera (meaning ‘hand-winged’), which is divided into two suborders:
Microchiroptera (Microbats)
are the smaller, mainly insectivorous bats that rely on echolocation to hunt and navigate.
Microbats in Australia are natural controllers of insect populations, consuming many species that are considered agricultural pests and vectors of disease (e.g., mosquitoes).
Megachiroptera (Megabats)
are frugivorous and nectarivorous bats, including flying-foxes, tube-nosed bats and blossom bats.
Megabats are keystone pollinators and seed dispersers of more than 100 species of plants and trees. They play a crucial role in maintaining the genetic diversity of Australia’s native forests. Many seeds dispersed by bats are pioneer species (the first to grow, which provide shelter for other plants to establish). Their activities help provide habitat for all other flora and fauna.
Did you know?
Megabats are megastars.
Their survival is critical to the survival of Australia’s native forests.
There are many excellent resources available online for in-depth information about bats. This site intends only to provide a brief overview of Australian bats, their vital environmental role, and the significant challenges they face to survive. The desire to assist these widely misunderstood and much-maligned megastars provided the motivation to create NightWings Foundation.
