FORAGING BEHAVIOR AND HABITAT USE BY A GLEANING BAT, MYOTIS-MYOTIS (CHIROPTERA, VESPERTILIONIDAE)

Adult Myotis myotis from a nursery colony in Bavaria spent most of the night flying in individual but nonexclusive areas and showed high specificity for forested habitats. Pregnant females had longest foraging times. On the cold and rainy nights, foraging time was reduced and bats of both sexes and all reproductive classes often used alternate day roosts. Juveniles progressively increased time and distance away from the nursery roost and foraged independently from their mothers. Carabid beetles were the most abundant prey; availability was not affected by weather. -from Author