Mexican Free-tail Bat

Distribution

Reproduction

Habitat

Diet

Mortality

Management

Literature Cited

Diet

The Mexican free-tail bat is designed for flight at high speeds but low maneuverability in open areas.  It is not uncommon for the this bat to travel great distances for foraging purposes (Wilkins 1989).  Some colonies have been known to cover areas of 160 square miles.  Generally flying at speeds greater than 39.9 kilometers (24.8 miles) per hour and at heights greater than 3048 meters (10,000 feet), and as low as 6.1-15.2 meters (20-50 ft) (TPWD Website).

The most common foods for the Mexican free-tail bat are agricultural insects such as moths and flying ants (TPWD website).  When foraging this bat allocates about 60% of its time to eating while in flight.  Only 12% of the time is used for stopping and eating.  The remaining time is used for cruising and resting (Wilkins 1989).  Feeding colonies of Mexican free-tail bats have been known to consume an estimated 6,000 to 15,000 metric tons of insects annually (Schmidly 1999).  Studies in 1967 examined bat intake and found 88 specimens within the bats.  Researchers observed 34% moths; 26% flying ants; 17% june and leaf beetles; 15% leafhoppers; and 6% true insects (Schmidly 1999).  These bats have also been known to forage on pest around agricultural crops in high numbers (Bat Conservation International Website).