Tag Archives: Microchiroptera

Examples of Megabats and Microbats

Posted on by

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.

Learn About Endangered Bat Species

Posted on by

Bats are miraculous mammals; that’s right, mammals. In fact, they are the only mammal that is capable of true flight! This is just one fascinating fact about bats, so you can imagine just how fun it can be to learn about them. For instance, there are two main categories of bats: Microchiroptera and Megachiroptera. Microbats are the more common nuisance bat, smaller in size and strictly insectivores (excluding the Vampire bat). Megabats are much larger in body size and wingspan, and dine primarily on the nectar of fruits.

Several species of both bats span regions far across the globe, and some species have been around for millions of years. Unfortunately, as a result of man-kind over-development and environmental disease, many species of bats are also now extinct, while many others are endangered today. Continue reading to learn which species of bat are endangered, and what to do if you have bats on your property.

Bats Close to Extinction

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) manages an index of endangered animals called the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In 2009, the red list contained 77 species of endangered and critically endangered bat. But with recent and on-going assessments, it is likely that this number has since increased.

Endangered and Critically Endangered Species Include:

Trident Leaf-nosed Bat Aselliscus tricuspidatus
Broad-toothed Tailless Bat Anoura latidens
Mindanao Pygmy Fruit Bat Alionycteris paucidentata
Borneo Fruit Bat Aethalops aequalis
Palawan Fruit Bat Acerodon leucotis
White-striped Free-tailed Bat Austronomus australis
Golden-capped Fruit Bat Acerodon jubatus
Western Naked-backed Fruit Bat Dobsonia peronei
Madagascan Fruit Bat Eidolon dupreanum
African Straw-coloured Fruit-bat Eidolon helvum
Pacific Sheath-tailed Bat Emballonura semicaudata
Horn-skinned Bat Eptesicus floweri
Clear-winged Woolly Bat Kerivoula pellucida
Southern Red Bat Lasiurus blossevillii
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus
Indiana Bat Myotis sodalist
Fish-eating Bat Myotis vivesi
White-lined Broad-nosed Bat Platyrrhinus lineatus
Mountain Long-eared Bat Plecotus macrobullaris
Black-bearded Tomb Bat Taphozous melanopogon
Little Forest Bat Vespadelus vulturnus
Asian Particolored Bat Vespertilio sinensis

This particular list is only a fraction of endangered and critically endangered bat species. For a complete list, check out the IUCN Red List and type “bats” in the search bar.

If you are experiencing bat problems on or around your property, call a licensed bat removal and control company for safe and humane exclusion services.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 when you need affordable bat removal services in Louisville, Kentucky and its surrounding counties. We are DNR licensed and experienced bat exclusion contractors that provide a wide range of services to get rid of bats. Our services include minor attic restorations for bat damages and bat cleanup as well! Call 502-553-7622 for Louisville Bat Removal and Control you can trust.

Comparing Megabats to Microbats

Posted on by

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.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

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.