Frequent summer nuptial flights of ants provide a primary food source for bats |
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Authors: | Eran Levin Yoram Yom-Tov Anat Barnea |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel;(2) Department of Natural and Life Sciences, The Open University of Israel, Ra’anana, Israel |
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Abstract: | In many ant species, nuptial flight tends to be short in time and assumed to be synchronous across a large area. Here, we
report that, in the upper Jordan Valley, northern Israel, massive nuptial flights of Carpenter ants (Camponotus sp.) occur frequently throughout the summer, and their alates form up to 90% of the diet of the greater mouse-tailed bat
(Rhinopoma microphyllum) during this period. This fat and protein-rich diet enables female bats to lactate during summer, and the large amount of
fat that both sexes accumulate may serve as an energy source for their following winter hibernation and posthibernation mating
in early spring (March–April). We suggest that the annual movement of these bats to the Mediterranean region of Israel may
have evolved in order to enable them to exploit the extremely nutritious forms of ant alates when the bats’ energetic demands
are highest. |
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Keywords: | Ants Camponotus Chiroptera Diet Nuptial flight Rhinopoma |
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