Free-ranging Van Gelder's bat Bauerus dubiaquercus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) preying on dung beetles in southern Mexico

We report the first prey species consumed by the free-ranging Van Gelder's bat Bauerus dubiaquercus. We trapped four pregnant individuals of this species carrying freshly captured dung beetles. We describe the wing morphology and flight descriptors (wing loading and wing aspect ratio) of the species, which presents wings more suitable for capturing insects by aerial hawking, although the evidence suggests that is able to capture dung beetles of nearly 10% of its body mass in flight close to the ground. The species could obtain their prey while foraging on uncluttered pasture near forest edges.

Automated summary

Van Gelder's bats were found to consume freshly captured dung beetles with their wings suited for aerial hunting of insects, capturing prey near forest edges on open pastures.