Bats
- Bats are very important pollinators in tropical and desert climates.
- They feed on the insects in the flowers as well as on the nectar and flower parts.
- Over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination.
- The Agave plant and the Saguaro also depend upon bats for pollination.
- Many of the more than 1,300 bat species consume vast amounts of insects every night, including some of the most damaging agricultural pests, such as codling moths in California walnut orchards.
- Pregnant or nursing mothers of some bat species will consume up to their body weight in insects each night.
- Fruit-eating bats in the tropics disperse seeds that are critical to restoring cleared or damaged rainforests.
- Even bat droppings (called guano) are valuable as a rich natural fertilizer.
- The flowers that are visited by bats are usually open at night, large, pale or white so they are easier to see at night, very fragrant and have lots of nectar.
- Bats will feed on the insects within the flowers as well as the nectar and flower parts.
Sources Cited:
Bat Conservation International
USDA Forest Service: Bat Pollination