Examples of Megabats and Microbats

All bat species known to mankind can be categorized as either Microchiroptera or Megachiroptera, also known as microbats and megabats. There are literally thousands of species of bat in both categories, all of which are found in virtually all regions of the world. Continue reading to learn the primary differences between the two suborders of bats, and some notable examples of each.

Louisville Bat Control 502-553-7622

Louisville Bat Control 502-553-7622

Microchiroptera

Microchiroptera are the smaller species of bats. They are mostly insectivores, and primarily eat a diet of insects, namely mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and moths. However, certain species also hunt and prey on small mammals and even blood. The most distinctive and well known attributes that set Microchiroptera bats apart from Megabats is their use of echolocation. Echolocation is a type of internal sonar system bats use to hunt for food and navigate around during flight. They emit a series of high-pitched beeps and clicks that bounce off of objects and return to the bat, disclosing the distance and location of the objects ahead. Many people incorrectly presume that Microchiroptera bats are blind, but they just have small eyes.

Popular Microbat Species Include:

➢ Little Brown Bat
➢ Indiana Bat
➢ Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
➢ Bumblebee Bat
➢ Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat
➢ Sac-Winged Bat
➢ Common Vampire Bat
➢ Collared Pipistrelle
➢ Horn-Skinned Bat
➢ Vesper Bats
➢ Funnel-Eared Bats
➢ Sucker-Footed Bats
➢ Disk-Winged Bats

Megachiroptera

Megachiroptera suborders of bats are not insectivores like Microchiroptera bats. Instead, their diet consists of only fruit, pollen, and nectar, which is why they are often referred to as fruit bats. They also do not use echolocation like their relatives. The Egyptian fruit bat is the only known megabat species that uses a series of clicks to navigate caves. Instead, Megachiroptera bats have large eyes and a well-pronounced visual cortex, so they see quite well. They also have an excellent sense of smell. One of their most distinctive features is their claw at the second toe of the forelimb. Microbats lack this trait.

Popular Megabat Species Include:

➢ Broad-Striped Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Common Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Pallas’s Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Dark Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Mountain Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Round-Eared Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Dragon Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Keast’s Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Island Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Malaita Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Demonic Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
➣ Lesser Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for Louisville bat removal and control, today. We offer a wide range of bat removal and control services for both residential and commercial properties, at the most competitive prices in town. That means you can get affordable bat removal and control you can trust. It was over 30 years of experience under our belts, you can feel confident in our results.

Comparing Megabats to Microbats

Did you know there are over one thousand different species of wild bats found all across the globe? This can certainly make it hard telling one apart from another, right? It is fascinating to think about how so many species of bats have acclimated and adapted to several climates and habitats all over the world. Wild bats are grouped into two main categories; megabats and microbats. Within each group contains various species of bats with a diverse range of characteristics and features. It is all quite interesting. Continue reading to learn the differences between megabats and microbats, and which species belongs in each group.

Microchiroptera

Most bats seen today are microbats. Microbats, scientifically referred to as Microchiroptera, are smaller than megabats; with “micro” meaning tiny or small, and of course “mega” meaning big or substantial. They have very small eyes but large ears. They release a high-pitched sound from their mouth or nose, to locate and hunt down food. This activity is called echolocation, a familiar term to most. Through echolocation, microbats sustain a diet that consists mostly of insects, fish, lizards, frogs, and even birds. Certain species of microbat even consume the blood of their prey. There are several species of microbats, all ranging in different sizes. The bumblebee bat happens to be the smallest; weighing only 2 grams or so. Here are a few examples of common microbat species found all across the world:

• Bumblebee Bat
• Vampire Bat
• Spear Nosed Bat
• Spotted Bat
• Inland Forest Bat
• Ghost Bat
• Orange Leaf-Nosed Bat
• Northern Free-Tailed Bat
• Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
• Little Broad-Nosed Bat
• And Much More

Megachiroptera

Megabats, or “Megachiroptera”, are less common and live in more tropical areas and climates around the world. They are much larger than microbats, and different in many ways. Megabats have large eyes and a good sense of smell. They use their sense of smell to locate food; such as fruits and flower nectars. Although primarily nocturnal, some megabats prefer to search for their meals during the daytime when these items are more bountiful and available. The largest megabat in the world is called the Gigantic Flying Fox Bat. It can weigh more than 2 pounds and have a wingspan of nearly six feet! Here are some species of megabat found in warmer and tropical climates around the planet:

• Fruit Bat
• Flying Fox Bat
• Spectacled Flying Fox Bat
• Grey-Headed Flying Fox Bat
• Hammerhead Bat
• Long-Tongued Nectar Bat
• Black Flying Fox Bat
• Little Red Flying Fox Bat
• And Much More

Even though bats are extraordinary and fascinating creatures, we certainly do not want them inside our homes! Not only can they cause extensive structural damages, they can pose a serious health threat to humans and pets. Get prompt bat removal service if you suspect you have a bat in the attic or other area of your home.

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Call 502-553-7622 for professional Louisville bat removal and control, if you suspect you have a bat problem in or around your property. Our DNR licensed and insured bat control technicians have decades of experience and training working with nuisance wildlife. We provide commercial and residential bat removal and control services, as well as, bat cleanup and animal damage repair. Call 502-553-7622 for a free estimate or to schedule a consultation for bat removal services in Louisville, KY and its nearby counties.

Discussing Differences Between Megabats and Microbats

There are over 100,000 species of bat all across the world. What’s even more interesting than that is, all these bat species fall into one of two categories: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera. Colloquially, these are referred to as megabats and microbats. Bats come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors; but all of them will either be a megabat or microbat species. Bats are the only mammal on Earth capable of true flight. This is one of the most interesting and incredible characteristics of bats! All bat species, whether mega or micro, are special and unique. Let’s take a closer look at a few individual species of bat, and discuss the differences between Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera bats.

Microchiroptera Bats

Microbats are not called “micro” for no reason; they are the smaller of the two category bats. The smallest microbat, called the Bumblebee Bat, weighs only 2 grams! Other microbats are known to weigh only a few ounces, and range between 4 and 15 centimeters long. They are also called Echolocating bats, small bats, insectivorous bats, and true bats. Although they go by many names and have various sub species, all microbats use echolocation to locate and hunt for food. Echolocation, also called bio sonar, is a method of emitting calls or sounds into the surrounding environment, and waiting for the sounds to bounce of close-by objects and return. This creates a mental grid or map for a bat in hunt of prey at night. Microbats have an interesting diet that mostly consists of insects; but larger species prefer small prey like frogs, fish, small birds, lizards, aquatic organisms, and even smaller bats. A few well-known species of Microchiroptera include the Spotted Bat, Spectacled Bat, Mexican Free-Tailed Bat, Bumblebee Bat, Orange Leaf-Nosed Bat, Little Broad-Nosed Bat, and the Inland Forest Bat.

Megachiroptera Bats

Megabats are much larger than most microbats. They have large eyes and a keen sense of smell. In fact, these two senses are their principle asset in hunting and locating food. You see, Megachiroptera bats do not use Echolocation like the Microchiroptera (with the exception of the Egyptian Fruit Bat that uses high-pitched clicks to navigate in caves). Instead, they see and smell very well. Their diet is frugivorous and nectarivorous, meaning they consume only ripened fruit, fruit juices, nectar, and pollen from flowers. They have long tongues that can reach down to the bottom of flowers in order to get to the pollen. Megabats and plant life practice a form of mutualism called Chiropterophily. Bats consume, pass along, and eliminate pollen and fruit seeds, producing more growth and aiding in the pollination process. Common species of megabat include all Fruit Bat species, all Flying Fox species, the Hammerhead Bat, and the Long-Tongued Nectar Bat.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 for professional bat removal and control services in Louisville, Kentucky today. We are highly trained and DNR licensed bat control specialists with decades of experience in the animal removal and control industry. We provide a wide-range of bat removal and control services; including bat removal, bat prevention, bat proofing, bat cleanup, minor attic restorations, emergency services, and more. Call 502-553-7622 and receive a free estimate regarding bat removal services in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.