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| Eastern pipistrelle |
| Pipistrellus subflavus |
| Throughout east coast of North
America to northern South America |
| Edges of forests and
agriculture or watercourses |
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The
Eastern pipistrelle is one of the 15 species of bats
found in Tennessee. It is also one of the smallest bats in the east growing up to
3.5" long
with a wingspan of up to 10" and they can weigh up to
1/4 of an ounce.
Mostly found roosting under loose bark or in the cavity of a tree. However,
they will also be found in
buildings. In the winter time they either hibernate living off
of stored fat, or they migrate to warmer climates where food is still
available.
Eastern pipistrelles feed on insects, especially leafhoppers, plant hoppers,
moths, beetles, and flies. Usually hunting above the tree canopy they
are one of the first bats to emerge in the evening. They find their food using
echolocation.
Bats are the only members of the mammal family that can fly. Like all
mammals they have fur and are warm blooded. They also give live birth and
produce milk for their babies. Bats are in the scientific order Chiroptera (kie-rop-ter-a), which means
'hand-wing' and are known to live from 10 to 32 years.
While most people generally think of bats living in caves, in the summer
time bats actually live behind bark, in tree's, jungles, and man made
structures such as buildings, barns, and bridges.
Bats provide an extremely important service for the environment in that they
eat large quantities insects. In fact some bats can eat as many as 1,200
insects in one hour. Since some insects such as misquotes carry diseases
including the West Nile Virus and other insects like Cucumber Beatles and moths
can cause severe crop damage, bats are doing humans a huge favor as well.
Bat Facts:
• There are more than 1,100 bat species.
• 70% of bats are insectivores.
• Bats make up almost 25% of all mammal species.
• a single brown bat can catch more than 1,200 insects per hour
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Related Links & Resources:
●
Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat Study Marks Favored Habitats
● Indiana
Bat Tests Positive For White-nosed Fungus
● Big Brown Bat
● White-nose
Syndrome
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