The diet of the parti‐coloured bat Vespertilio murinus in Sweden

• Published in: Ecography
• Main Author: Rydell, Jens
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1992
• Subjects: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Vespertilio murinus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.1992.tb00024.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1600-0587.1992.tb00024.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1600-0587.1992.tb00024.x

Food habits of the parti‐coloured bat in southern Sweden were investigated by analysis of fecal samples collected from three maternity roosts used in summer and, in addition, one roost used by a male during the mating season m autumn Small (c 3‐10 mm) dipterans dominated all samples, representing 64‐82% by volume, but larger flying insects like moths, caddis‐flies and dung beetles were also eaten, together representing 14‐33% At the family level, midges (Chironomidae) were by far the most common prey items, compnsing 12‐67% of the diet The dominance of small prey items in the diet of the parti‐coloured bat in Sweden contrasts with other bat species of similar size and foraging habits, but agrees with observations on parti‐coloured bats in Ukrama and Poland