Diet of Brazilian Free-Tailed Bats (Chiroptera: Molossidae: Tadarida Brasiliensis): A Review

Abstract

The insectivorous Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) inhabits North, Central, and South America. Since the 1920s the diet of these bats has interested scientists. The aim of this review is to catalog the published studies that explore the diet of T. brasiliensis and speculate how modern methods of analysis may be useful. The 19 studies reviewed reveal moths (Lepidoptera) and beetles (Coleoptera) as the two most common food items. Eighteen other orders of insect are commonly identified.RESUMEN-El murciélago de cola libre (Tadarida brasiliensis) habita el Norte,