BATS are a reservoir for many diseases such as Ebola and the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome and have been vilified in many stories as they are seen as spooky and sinister, with some stories even calling them the harbingers of death.
With all this bad rap, are bats actually important to our environment?
Verdict:
TRUE
Bats are widespread as they can be found almost everywhere - with the exception of extreme deserts, some isolated islands and polar regions - but regardless of where they call home, they inhabit an important niche in their environment.
Bat droppings, called guano, are rich in nitrogen and can be used as fertiliser.
Nectar-drinking bats pollinate plants. Hundreds of plant species, including mango, avocado and banana, can be pollinated by bats. Also, fruit-eating bats help disperse seeds far and wide.
Insect-eating bats can consume half their body weight in bugs each night, helping keep these pest populations in check - for instance, in rice, corn and cotton fields.
When it comes to mosquitoes, some bats can eat dozens of these annoying insects in a minute.
Now, where’s a bat when there’s a mosquito keeping you awake at night?
References:
2. https://www.si.edu/spotlight/
3. https://www.al.com/news/
