Bats are often misunderstood, associated with myths of blood-drinking. These nocturnal mammals are incredibly diverse, with varied diets. While the image of blood-feeding bats is widespread, it represents a tiny fraction of the over 1,400 known bat species. Bat diets are far more complex than popular belief suggests.
Only Three Species Consume Blood
Only three species of vampire bats consume blood: the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), the hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata), and the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi). These three species are native to Central and South America, ranging from Mexico down to parts of Argentina and Chile. This diet, known as hematophagy, involves consuming small amounts of blood.
They do not “suck” blood; instead, they make a small incision with razor-sharp incisor teeth and lap up the flowing blood with grooved tongues. Their saliva contains anticoagulants, preventing blood clotting for a steady meal. A common vampire bat consumes about two tablespoons of blood per night, a small amount relative to the host. Common vampire bats primarily feed on mammals like livestock, while hairy-legged and white-winged vampire bats mainly target birds.
The Diverse Diets of Most Bats
Most bats have diets centered on other food sources, highlighting their adaptability. Over 70% of bat species are insectivorous, primarily eating insects. They are proficient aerial hunters, consuming large quantities of mosquitoes, moths, and beetles, often locating prey using echolocation. A single little brown bat can catch over 1,200 mosquito-sized insects in an hour.
Other bats are frugivores, specializing in fruit like mangoes, bananas, and figs. They aid in seed dispersal by excreting seeds away from the parent plant. Nectivores feed on nectar and pollen from flowers, inadvertently pollinating plants as they move between blooms. Some species, like the Mexican long-nosed bat, possess specialized brush-like tongues for nectar collection.
Beyond insects, fruits, and nectar, some bats have specialized carnivorous or piscivorous diets. Carnivorous bats prey on small vertebrates like frogs, lizards, birds, and other bats. Fish-eating bats (piscivores) use their large hind feet and claws to scoop fish from the water’s surface. This wide range of feeding habits demonstrates the ecological diversity within the bat order.
Ecological Importance of Bats
Bats contribute to healthy ecosystems through their diverse feeding habits. Insectivorous bats provide natural pest control by consuming agricultural pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. This benefits farmers and helps maintain balanced insect populations. For example, a colony of Mexican free-tailed bats can consume nearly two tons of insects nightly.
Many plant species rely on bats for pollination, especially in tropical and desert regions. Bats pollinate plants such as agave (used for tequila) and fruit trees like mangoes and guavas. Their activity supports plant reproduction. Fruit-eating bats are important for seed dispersal, aiding forest regeneration and maintaining biodiversity by spreading seeds.