Document Type
Article
DOI
10.25778/49xf-bd38
Abstract
Food habits of Myotis leibii, Eastern Small-footed Myotis, were studied during summer in the Central Appalachians Ecoregion. Moths were 70.0% of the diet by volume and were in 97.7% of samples (percent frequency). Beetles, flies, and spiders comprised much of the remaining diet. Percent volume and percent frequency metrics produce similar results. These data and past studies indicate this bat eats a relatively low-diversity diet centered on terrestrial-based arthropod prey across a broad geographical area, irrespective of season, sex, or age. The presence of spiders in the diet may indicate gleaning.
Recommended Citation
Whitaker, J. O., Jr., V. Brack, Jr., and J. D. Kiser, Jr. 2022. Summer Food Habits of Myotis leibii in the Central Appalachians Ecoregion and Comparison to Similar Studies. Virginia Journal of Science 73 (1): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.25778/49xf-bd38