The world’s only flying mammals, bats inhabit nearly every region of the planet, playing an often-misunderstood role in global ecosystems. These nocturnal creatures are not only diverse in their appearance and behavior but also in their feeding habits. They are largely responsible for controlling insect populations, pollinating a wide range of plants, and dispersing seeds across large areas.
The Truth About Tomatoes and Bats
The short answer to whether bats eat tomatoes is that they generally do not. The vast majority of bat species, including all those native to the United States, are insectivorous, meaning they feed exclusively on insects and pose no threat to garden fruits or vegetables. These common bats are actually allies to gardeners, consuming massive quantities of pests that would otherwise damage crops like tomatoes.
Even the species of bats that do consume plant matter, known as frugivores, are unlikely to target a backyard tomato. Frugivorous bats typically prefer the softer, sweeter, and more nutrient-dense fruits found in tropical and subtropical regions, such as figs, mangoes, and bananas. Tomatoes, which are low in sugar compared to these tropical options, are not a preferred food source. Some researchers suggest that the chemical compounds present in the green parts of the tomato plant may even deter consumption. Damage attributed to bats is usually incidental, and the animal responsible is typically a different nocturnal visitor.
Bat Dietary Diversity
To understand why tomatoes are excluded from the typical bat diet, one must consider the diverse feeding strategies evolved across the order Chiroptera. Over 70% of the world’s bat species are insectivores, relying entirely on flying and crawling invertebrates for their sustenance. A single little brown bat, for example, can consume enough insects to equal its own body weight nightly, drastically reducing populations of moths, beetles, and mosquitoes.
Other major groups include frugivores, which are fundamental to seed dispersal in tropical forests, often carrying fruit away from the parent plant before consuming the pulp and dropping the seeds. Nectivorous bats use specialized long snouts and tongues to feed on the nectar and pollen of flowers, making them primary pollinators for plants like the agave and certain cacti. Their feeding habits ensure the reproduction of many commercially and ecologically important plants.
Beyond these common diets, some bats are specialized to consume vertebrates, classified as carnivorous or piscivorous. These species prey on small mammals, birds, or fish, often using complex hunting techniques. A small number of specialized bats, known as vampire bats, are haematophagous, feeding only on the blood of mammals or birds.
Identifying the Real Culprit
When a gardener discovers a partially-eaten tomato, the damage is almost certainly caused by a different creature than a bat. Common culprits include the tomato hornworm, a large caterpillar that can rapidly defoliate plants and chew large holes in the fruit. These pests are often easily identified by their size and the distinctive black projection on their posterior end.
Another frequent attacker is the common garden slug or snail, which often leaves irregular, ragged holes and a telltale slime trail on low-hanging fruit. Birds, such as mockingbirds and crows, may also be responsible, typically taking one or two sharp pecks and then moving on to another fruit. Rodents, including rats and mice, are also nocturnal feeders that can leave gnawed marks on ripening tomatoes.
Identifying the true pest often involves examining the type of damage and looking for physical evidence. Damage from insects generally appears as clean holes or defoliation, while slugs leave residue and birds leave smaller, deep punctures. Simple exclusion methods, such as draping fine netting over plants or using traps for ground-based pests, are usually the most effective approach to protect the harvest.