Late-Seasonal A ctivity and Diet of the Eveninc Bat (Nycticeius Humeralis) in Nebraska

Authors

Keith Geluso, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow
Jason P. Damm, University of New Mexico
Ernest W. Valdez, University of Nebraska at Kearney

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2008

Comments

Published in Western North American Naturalist 68(1), © 2008, pp. 21–24

Abstract

In North America, Nebraska represents part of the northwestern edge of the distribution for the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis). To date, little information on this bat’s natural history has been published from the state or from other parts of the Great Plains. Here we report on aspects of its natural history in Nebraska from 2 localities. In late summer and early autumn of 2006, we documented individuals farther west in Nebraska (Harlan County) than previously reported and determined that individuals fed mainly on Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. In 2006, evening bats appeared to migrate from Nebraska during late September–early October, and individuals were extremely fat, about 15 g, prior to migration. Evening bats likely are more widespread and common in south central Nebraska than previously documented. On 6 October 2005, we reported on an individual from eastern Nebraska (Douglas County), which represents the latest seasonal record of N. humeralis from the state.