Bats and Insect Control

One way many bats find their supper is by flying around and emitting radar like sounds and listening to the signals that bounce off potential prey, a system called echolocation. The signals differ from species to species according to the bats’ body size, size of the intended prey and the sensitivity of that bat’s hearing. When a bat detects a potential meal is, it increases the frequency and zeros in. It’s pretty hard to catch an evasive insect on the wing with your mouth, and some bats have a structure, the uropatagium, they can use like a catcher’s mitt. Biologists have had difficulty distinguishing bats by their calls, but thanks to technology, even a homeowner can get relatively inexpensive devices that identifies noises from different species letting you know you which unseen aerialists are helping you with pest control.