The Diet Composition of Four Vesper Bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from the Centre Region of Cameroon (Central Africa)

Abstract

Diet is an important part of microbat biology that provides valuable information on how species interact and persist in an ecosystem. Dietary analysis is also important in interpreting their role as predator of night flying insects. Our objective is to report on the food and feeding habits of four microbats (Neoromicia nana, Neoromicia tenuipinnis, Pipistrellus nanulus and Scotoecus hirundo) in the Centre Region of Cameroon, based primarily on fecal remains collected from bats captured at their feeding and roosting sites. Bats were captured from January 2016 to December 2017 using mist nets and their fecal pellets were collected for dietary analysis. Dietary analysis of 393 fecal pellets of 51 vesper bats showed that bats consumed eight insect Orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isopteran, Trichoptera and Neuroptera). Lepidoptera's (%v=58.5%) were the most important food source for these bats. The three most frequent insect Orders encountered in the pellets of these bats were Lepidoptera (%f = 96.6%), dipteran (%f =79.1%) and Coleoptera (%f =77.5%). We observed large amounts of Diptera content in the diet of S. hirundo (%v = 39.7%), N. tenuipinnis (%v = 29.6%). Elucidating the role of bats in Dipteran control could lead to benefits for both the conservation of bats and public health. Equally erecting of bat houses to attract bats in farms so that they feed on insects could reduce or minimize the use of pesticides. A statistical analysis of mean percentage frequency and volume of food items indicated that among the four-bat species, consumed prey items were similar (H = 0.2, p = 0.9). This new information can be used for both conservation and to improve public awareness about bats in Cameroon.