Carabidae ( Coleoptera ) in the diet of a greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis ( Chiroptera , Vespertilionidae )

Abstract

Mouse eared-bat is one of the few European bat species specializing in predating on epigeic, wingless invertebrates, including ground beetles. It catches prey on various surfaces like ground or plants. To estimate the role of carabid species in the diet of Myotis myotis we investigated 380 guano pellets. Material was collected every two weeks during two breeding seasons (years 2002 and 2003) in Sulejow, Lodz Province, Central Poland. Frequency analysis revealed that Coleoptera occurred in 99% of all checked samples. Among beetle families, Carabidae were the most numerous group (range: 45.5-100%, depending on the season), represented by 5 typically epigeic, flightless, large and medium-sized species (1.4-3.5 cm): Carabus auronitens, C. arcensis, C. granulatus, C. violaceus, and Pterostichus sp.