THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE

BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

FALL 2015 // BATCON.ORG

Appreciating the role of in our everyday diet BATSBRING treats

SPOTLIGHT ON: MEXICAN CELEBRATING AN EXPERT Q&A ON LONG-NOSED BAT WEEK WITH BCI BAT MYTHS IN JAPAN CONSERVATION THAT ENDURES A decision today. A promise for the future.

Legacy Circle Members, their families, friends and executors often have personal stories at the heart of their decision to include BCI in their estate planning. Some recall bats in the night sky over a summer camp or remember the sounds of bats chittering around a family porch. Others are armchair adventurers who follow bat conservation through the photos and stories in our magazine. What they have in common is a lifelong love of unsung heroes—and an awareness of bats’ role as Earth’s nighttime caretakers.

Contact us today. Tell us your story. Live your life knowing that your legacy gift will fund conservation that endures. Let every bat in the night sky be your monument.

For more information about making a bequest to BCI, visit batcon.org/ legacy, call 1-800-538-BATS (2287) or email [email protected]. Photo: Jonathan Alanazo Jonathan Photo: THE HALLOWEEN FALL 2015 ISSUE bats INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FEATURE 08 THE BAT- APPROVED DIET Through pollination, and pest control, bats play a vital role in many of our everyday foods

Photo: ChristianPhoto: Ziegler

OFF THE BAT [PAGE 14] MAKING A DIFFERENCE BCI Communication Manager R ecognizing the many generous 02 Micaela Jemison offers a plan to 18 friends and members who sup- help bats reclaim Halloween ported BCI this past quarter

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT BAT KIDS A BCI favorite, the Mexican long- B at-themed coloring templates 06 nosed bat is a conservation priority 20 created from some of history’s species in North America most famous bat illustrations

BAT CHATS ON THE WING A pair of Japanese bat researchers BCI visits the Smithsonian’s rare 14 breaks down the common bat myths 21 book collection and finds early bat of their native land references in priceless texts

NEWS & UPDATES

BAT SIGNALS FIELD NOTES BCI news and Research news from 03 conservation updates 15 around the globe � BCI and Bat Week organizers seek a � Research shows that bats are record for bat houses built in a day worth more than $1 billion to � Adopt-a-Bat updates the corn industry � Grassroots international grants � A look back at an 1835 � Funding the fight against newspaper hoax about bat-men ON THE COVER White-Nose Syndrome that captivated a generation of Forget the storybook myths; bats’ true [PAGE 3] � Bats go viral on social media readers connection to Halloween comes in the form of pest

Photo: Amy Kimball Photography control for cocoa trees.

batcon.org bats { 01 batoff the A FEW WORDS OF INTRODUCTION FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT BCI

Bat Conservation International (BCI) is the only 501(c) Taking back Halloween (3) organization working on the ground to protect bats and their essential worldwide. A copy of our current financial statement and registration filed by the By MICAELA JEMISON organization may be obtained by contacting our office in Austin, below, or by visiting batcon.org. he holiday season is fast and food promotion to encourage Main Office Washington DC approaching, and with it people to spread positive messages 500 Capital of Texas 4600 North Fairfax Drive comes that annual fall event about bats, support communities Highway North, Building 1 7th floor T Austin, TX 78746 Arlington, VA 22203 perhaps most associated with bats: involved with bat conservation 512-327-9721 703-962-6775 Halloween. While many among and inspire the next generation of us enjoy the witches’ cackling and conservationists. From creating Editor Emeritus Managing Editor pumpkins on every street corner, and sharing bat-inspired Halloween Robert Locke Micaela Jemison the scary—and often inaccurate— recipes to beefing up on some batty Publication Management GLC connections made between our food facts, you’ll find numerous ways furry friends and the spooky holiday to join this effort in this issue, online Bats welcomes queries from writers. Send your article can dishearten even the most and through BCI’s social media. proposal in a brief outline form and a description of any photos, charts or other graphics to the Editor at optimistic bat supporters. That’s This is the second year that Bat [email protected]. why we here at BCI are determined Week, Oct. 25–31, will be held Members: We welcome your feedback. Please send to reclaim Halloween for bats to coincide with Halloween. To letters to the Editor at [email protected]. Changes by celebrating the actual, unique celebrate this annual event, BCI of address may be sent to [email protected] connections between the world of and our partners will be promoting or to BCI at our Austin, Texas, address above. Please allow these fascinating flying a world record attempt to build four weeks for the change of address to take effect. and our own. the most bat houses in one day on From time to time, BCI exchanges mailing lists with Both the young and young at October 31. (See page 3 for more and other like-minded conservation groups to make more heart strongly associate Halloween how to get involved.) people aware of the importance of bats. If you wish to opt-out of these exchanges, please let us know at with delicious fall foods and, of We have also [email protected]. course, candy. It seems nearly every partnered with TALK TO US Founder: Dr. Merlin D. Tuttle food staple receives the Halloween Smithsonian Share your thoughts treatment at this time of year, from Libraries to create a and feedback with Board of Directors pumpkin-flavored coffees to candy series of bat coloring Bats magazine at Dr. Cullen Geiselman Dr. Charles C. Chester [email protected]. Chair Bettina Mathis corn cookies. But to truly get into templates based Steven P. Quarles, Dr. Gary McCracken the Halloween spirit you don’t on the amazing bat Vice Chair John D. Mitchell need to add artificial flavors. Many illustrations found Danielle Gustafson, Alexander “Sandy” Read of our favorite treats, and more in the Smithsonian’s rare book Treasurer Dr. Wes Sechrest than a few basic staples sitting in collection. We hope to inspire artists C. Andrew Marcus, Susan Wallace Secretary Joe Walston your kitchen pantry right now, are of all ages with this remarkable already connected to this celebration selection of bat faces, which show Science Advisory Committee Dr. Kate Jones Dr. Rodrigo Medellín through their natural relationship us how diverse bats truly are. Dr. Tigga Kingston Dr. Paul Racey with bats. Reclaiming Halloween for bats Dr. Gary McCracken, Dr. Charles Rupprecht These foods include rice, coffee, doesn’t mean we wish to take the Board liaison corn, numerous fruits and nuts, not fright out of the ghoulish night. We Senior Staff to mention that most important see Halloween as an opportunity Andrew Walker, Joy Gaddy, of ingredients for our Halloween to show the world the amazing Executive Director Operations treats: chocolate. Bats act as unseen diversity and value of bats, and to David Waldien, Mylea Bayless, gardeners—or more specifically, spread the word that if we don’t take Global Conservation U.S./Canada Conservation pollinators, seed dispersers and pest conservation action now, we could controllers—for these and many lose these fascinating creatures. Now other different foods from around that’s a scary thought. Visit BCI’s website at batcon.org and the following the world. social media sites: To shed light on these facts, this Micaela Jemison Facebook.com/batcon Twitter.com/BatConIntl Halloween BCI is launching a bats BCI Communication Manager

02 }bats fall 2015 THE HALLOWEEN bat ISSUE

BCI UPDATES AND CONSERVATION NEWS

SAVE THE DATE A week to remember This year’s Bat Week takes aim at the record books

In an attempt to set a world record for the “most bat houses built in one day,” the Bat Week team has rallied bat enthusiasts from all parts of North America. During the event, which will take place on Halloween, Oct. 31, as part of Bat Week (Oct. 25–31), participants will aim to build a record 5,000 bat houses across the U.S. and Canada. Bat Week is an annual, international block of programs and media appearances designed to raise awareness for bat conservation worldwide. The team that HOUSE PARTY organizes Bat Week includes Bat Conservation International, U.S. Forest Service, If you and your family would like to join in on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Organization for Bat Conservation, Wildlife recording-breaking fun, find an event in your area Acoustics, Lubee Bat Conservancy and the Save Lucy Campaign. at batweek.org. If you’re unable to attend, learn more about artificial roosts and find tips and resources for creating and installing your own bat house at batcon.org/bathouse. Photo: Amy Kimball Photography

batcon.org bats { 03 bat BCI’s Adopt-a-Bat program also offers plush toy options of the eastern red bat and the Sulawesi fruit bat. GRANTS SUPPORT Grassroots on a global scale From Malaysia to Venezuela, BCI supports bats around the world Since 1998, BCI has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and small grants to more than 200 aspiring bat conservation leaders Little Mia plays with new friends for projects in 40-plus from BCI’s countries. Our grassroots Adopt-a-Bat grants support the work program. of exceptionally talented students and professionals. Photo: Melanie Flores These awards of $1,000 to $5,000 provide opportunities for further funding by attracting matching grants Adopt-a-BatBCI adds three new plush toy options grows to from other funding sources. Photo: Konrad Wothe BCI grants especially Project aims to investigate program’s offerings encourage research and the ecosystem services of the locally conservation projects to threatened island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) by quantifying the e at BCI are excited to announce the addition of address the lack of basic interactions between this species, three new members to our Adopt-a-Bat family: the knowledge regarding some plants and people on Tioman Island. Wspotted bat, Bechstein’s bat and the Mexican free- species’ ecology, distribution tailed bat. As part of BCI’s symbolic Adopt-a-Bat program, and behavior. each donor who makes a contribution of $25 or more receives BCI is proud to announce the five projects selected for 2015 a stuffed, plush bat toy of the species of his or her choosing, grassroots grant funding: along with a BCI adoption certificate and a complete profile of 1. Steps forward in the conservation of the Curaçaoan the selected species. long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae) in Venezuela; With its large pinkish ears and snow-white spots, the spotted Dr. Jafet Nassar, Venezuelan Institute of Scientific bat (Euderma maculatum) stands out in real life and as a plush Research, Venezuela bat. This is one of the few bats whose echolocation sound is 2. A national assessment of the endemic and critically low enough to be heard by humans. endangered Hill’s Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hilli); The silky brown fur and endearing little face of Bechstein’s Dr. Paul Webala, Maasai Mara University, Kenya bat (Myotis bechsteinii) makes it 3. Project Pteropus: Interactions between flying foxes, another must for any collection. The plants and people on Tioman Island — Implications Bechstein’s bat is one of Britain’s BAT BUDS for conservation; Sheema Abdul Aziz, Rimba Research, BCI’s Adopt-a-Bat rarest bats, though the fossil record program offers a Malaysia suggests it was once the most fun way to introduce 4. Human-wildlife conflict mitigation in Malawi: Establishing a common bat species in that country. young children to the national bat helpline and roost-monitoring programme; And of course, everyone at BCI world of bats, and Dr. Emma Stone, African Bat Conservation/University of Bristol, has a soft spot for the Mexican free- supporting contri- United Kingdom butions help BCI tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis). preserve and protect 5. Ecology and conservation of After all, they make their summer bats in the real world. Guadalcanal’s monkey-faced bats; FOR MORE home at our very own Bracken Cave, Adopt one today at Dr. Tyrone Lavery, The University Learn about each project at batcon.org/adopt. batcon. known as the largest colony of bats of Queensland, Australia org/grassroots. in the world.

04 }bats fall 2015 THE Seven bat species in 26 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces have been diagnosed with White-Nose Syndrome. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

GRANTS Fighting

BCI and TNC co-fund critical research funguson White-Nose Syndrome

or the second year, BCI and the Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are pleased to award F$100,000 in funding to support critical research in the fight against White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). WNS is a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats to date and is the primary threat to North America’s hibernating bats. Together, BCI and TNC awarded three grants to solution-oriented projects that aim to identify and develop tools to control the fungus that causes WNS. The three projects take complementary WISH LIST approaches to managing this fungus, Target WNS at Pseudogymnoascus its source destructans (Pd). The Northern long- first project, proposed by BCI believes that the best eared bat (Myotis way to prevent White-Nose Dr. Auston M. Kilpatrick septentrionalis) is one Syndrome is to manage the of the University of of the species most fungus that causes it. That is California, Santa Cruz, effected by White- why we provide critical funding seeks to optimize the Nose Syndrome. to research projects that seek to treatment of infected Service Parks National Photo: develop tools to control the fun- gus, P. destructans. You can help bats using a bacteria as New Jersey, will test a fumigation compound as control for support critical WNS research a biological control of the fungal disease. The third project, proposed by Dr. Chris by donating to BCI’s WNS the fungus. The second Cornelison of Georgia State University, builds on existing BCI/ Response Program at batcon. project, proposed by Dr. TNC-supported research. Cornelison seeks to optimize the org/wns_donate. Joan Bennett of Rutgers, production of another naturally occurring bacteria to enable The State University of its broad-scale use in treatments.

Social media success While all of us at BCI see beauty in every bat species, not everyone does. However, our recent Facebook post with the message that “Cuteness shouldn’t be the measure for conservation” resonated with an astounding 2.2 million people within 72 hours. BCI will continue to use social media to spread the bat conservation message to new audiences. You can help by sharing our posts on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Photo: Merlin Tuttle D.

batcon.org bats { 05 species spott THERE ARE 1,331+ SPECIES OF BATS IN THE WORLD. THIS IS ONE OF THEM. light

bat stats BINOMIAL Mexican Leptonycteris nivalis FAMILY Phyllostomidae

long-nosed COLONY SIZE 0 to 10,000

AVG. FOREARM SIZE bat 57 mm

DIET Nectarivore

IUCN RED LIST STATUS Endangered

REGIONS

Mexico and southern U.S. Photo: Merlin Tuttle D.

06 }bats fall 2015 THE Most Mexican long-nosed bats are 2.75–3.75 inches long yet have a tongue that can extend out 3 inches. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

Photo: Alfredo Flores-Zaher An important nectar- While both bats feed on agave species, coexist only in a small feeding bat in need of overlapping area. The Mexican long- conservation support nosed bat prefers higher, cooler places in parts of New Mexico, Texas and Mexico, whereas, the he Mexican long-nosed bat lesser long-nosed bat generally (Leptonycteris nivalis) is a inhabits lower elevations in New Tnectar-feeding bat native to Mexico, Arizona, Mexico and parts Mexico and the United States. Its of Central America. Agave plants characteristic elongated muzzle are the primary source of nectar makes it well-adapted to feeding for Mexican long-nosed bats, and on nectar and protein-rich pollen. although population declines are Its tongue, which can be extended not entirely understood, some think The Mexican long- up to 3 inches, allows it to reach they might be connected to a loss nosed bat feeds on deep down into flowers. Mexican of food resources, through both the showy flowers long-nosed bats are the largest changing land use and wild agave congregate in the same cave in of the agave plant. nectar-feeding bats in the New harvesting. Morelos again to mate. World; they are very strong, highly A loss of roosting sites is Many aspects of Mexican long- maneuverable fliers, and somewhat another factor thought to impact nosed bat biology remain a mystery like hummingbirds, they are able to the populations of Mexican long- to scientists and conservationists pause in flight to feed on the showy nosed bats. For day roosting, the alike. Because of the species’ flowers of plants, such as the agave bats depend on cool caves, crevices, migratory nature and a lack of or century (Agave spp.) plant. abandoned mines, tunnels and old knowledge about its roosting The Mexican long-nosed bat is buildings. There is only one known sites, it is very difficult for WISH classified as endangered in both mating site for this species: in the conservationists to get accurate LIST the U.S. and Mexico. In order to central Mexican state of Morelos. population estimates. To try to understand this bat’s life history and In this cave, males and females answer some of these questions, Help recent decline, one must understand gather during the winter, and in BCI is working with Dr. Rodrigo support its feeding ecology. Although March females start migrating Medellin, coordinator of the Mexican movement patterns are not precisely north. Females are then believed Program for Conservation of long-nosed known, this migratory species to give birth to one or two young Mexican Bats (PCMM) to search bats is thought to move from central each year. The young are born in for additional mating sites for Mexico into northern Mexico each northern Mexico during April, May this species in central Mexico. Your financial year, with part of the population and early June, then move further While the search continues, BCI support helps crossing the border into Texas north with their mothers, following and the PCMM are working with BCI continue and New Mexico. This migratory the blooming periods of the agaves community partners in Morelos to protect the pathway follows a “nectar corridor” and cacti. In Big Bend National Park to protect the only known Mexican long- as the bats migrate to follow the in Texas, agaves begin blooming breeding site for the species. BCI nosed bat’s sole breeding site blooming periods of a number of in mid-May at lower elevations is also investing in identifying and feeding agave and cacti species found in the and early June at higher altitudes. and protecting vital agave habitats, search region’s desert scrub habitats. The bats arrive in Texas about a fields along the nectar corridor for new roosts, The Mexican long-nosed bat month after the flowering of agaves that Mexican long-nosed bats and provide our and a similar-looking species, the has begun and spend most of the rely on for survival. While international lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris summer there, before following the these are all important steps, conservation yerbabuenae), are the main later-blooming agaves southward in a revised long-term recovery team with pollinators of several agave species, late summer or early fall. Few adult plan, with committed partners resources including Agave angustifolia (one males have been recorded in Texas in both Mexico and the United for further action. If you of the mezcal species), A. salmiana and northern Mexico, as males and States, is desperately needed. would like to (pulque plant) and A. tequilana females segregate geographically, BCI is currently building an contribute to (tequila plant), and are renowned with males rarely appearing in international collaborative team this effort, visit for their association with the tequila the most northerly part of the to come together to revise the batcon.org/ and mezcal that humans make from species’ range. From late October to science and commit to actions mlnb_donate. the agaves. February, adult males and females to help save this species. batcon.org bats { 07 FEATURE

Through pollination, seed dispersal and pest control, bats play a vital role in the health and availability of many everyday foods

the bat-approved Photo: Merlin Tuttle D. 08 }bats fall 2015 diet THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE

uts, as we all know, don’t come cheap. NBut sometimes you just have to have them: All brownies are good, but brownies with walnuts are especially so. And that fun-size Almond Joy from your kid’s Halloween candy stash? It just wouldn’t be the same without its eponymous nut. In singing the praises of these tasty treats, we’d be remiss not to mention a key contributor that plays a surprising role in getting some of these nuts—and other foods—into your pantry. With all due respect to the honeybee, it’s the bat that deserves our thanks in many cases. In California’s Central Valley, many nut-producing farms concentrate on a single crop, whether it be almonds, pistachios By MICHELLE Z. DONAHUE or walnuts. Sierra Orchards, for example, devotes 95 percent of its 450 acres to walnuts. But what Sierra has that similar neighboring farms do not are flat, open-bottomed boxes, affixed to A Gambian barns and tall steel poles. Each of bat-approved epauletted fruit bat these narrow plywood enclosures ( houses a group of 100 or so hungry gambianus) eats a fig on the go, thereby bats, which stream forth every aiding seed dispersal. evening to hunt codling moth adults and larvae. batcon.org bats { 09 FEATURE Not unlike hummingbirds, some bats hover from flower to flower lapping up nectar, while showering each with pollen from other plants.

“They consume massive amounts of , more than any spray, smoke or mist could ever affect,” McNamara says. “The bats voraciously Bat-Inspired Treats pursue them.” Bats in North America are fairly small. At Looking for a Halloween treat that honors our Sierra, the most common are the Mexican free- favorite nocturnal creature? Head to batcon. tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) and the pallid org/halloweenrecipes to find ingredients and bat (Antrozous pallidus), which weigh about instructions for two of our favorites: Batty Balls and half an ounce and an ounce, respectively. Still, Chocolate-Dipped Banana Ghosts. See the sidebar they’re capable of eating up to two-thirds their on page 12 to learn how to share your creations with bodyweight in insects per night; one pallid bat us and your fellow BCI members via social media. can eat up to 17 grams in one night, about the weight of three nickels. That adds up fast. If each of the farm’s nine The codling moth is a major pest that feeds colonies of 120 bats were populated exclusively on walnuts. Uncontrolled, this same that with pallid bats, they’d mow through four Bats, like this drills holes into apples can destroy as much as 40 to seven tons of insects annually. That’s the straw-colored fruit bat percent of a nut crop—a big problem for a state equivalent to the weight of a school bus—in ( helvum), that produces 99 percent of America’s walnuts. bugs—every single year. And that’s just one crop, have long-supported Sean McNamara, son of Sierra Orchards on one farm. the proliferation of wild founder and owner Craig McNamara, says the The planet’s more than 1,330 known species of bananas through both pollination and seed farm’s bats are an integral part of the farm’s pest bats serve critical roles in bringing all kinds of dispersal. management strategy. food to the table, for humans and alike. “Because they’re so secret, we really don’t know the extent of their impact,” says Rachael Long, a University of California cooperative extension advisor who has studied Sierra’s bats. “But encouraging biological control can only add resiliency to any system.”

Pollination: Bananas After you polish off your next ice cream sundae, consider this: Every banana you’ve ever eaten is a hybrid clone. Modern bananas are parthenocarpic, producing fruit without the help of a pollinator. That also makes them genetically stagnant, and thus more easily contaminated. Having supplanted Gros Michel bananas, which were the standard in the 1950s, Cavendish bananas have dominated the banana landscape for decades. But the ubiquitous Cavendish is succumbing to a deadly fungal disease. Today, scientists and researchers are scouring the tropics for disease-

resistant wild bananas that could ChristianPhoto: Ziegler

10 }bats fall 2015 THE Fruit bats, prime movers of tropical seeds, can process 2.5 times their body weight in fruit each night, while scattering fruit seeds over many miles. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

It’s No Trick: Bats Bring Treats Halloween is a time for scary costumes as well as fun food. Many people PEST CONTROL associate bats with the celebration’s scary side, given their nocturnal existence and mythical ties to storybook vampires. But did you know that bats have an Chocolate even stronger connection to the yummy treat side of Halloween—as well as our Economists estimate that everyday diets? It’s true: Bats help bring many of our essential and favorite foods without bats controlling to the table, including coffee, rice, spirits like tequila, numerous fruits and nuts, pest populations, cocoa and, perhaps most important for Halloween, chocolate. bean yields would fall In fact, through direct and indirect pollination, seed dispersal and pest by up to 22 percent. control, bats act as our unseen gardeners for many different plant-based foods around the world: Sugar Scientists have found that POLLINATION several free-tailed bat species prefer to hunt in Bananas sugar cane fields, feeding Bananas are an ancient group that on moth and beetle crop evolved with bats, their pollinators, pests. over 50 million years. Bananas evolved nocturnal flowering, a Walnuts strong and characteristic odor, plus Bats forage in walnut abundant nectar and pollen to attract orchards for codling moths bats worldwide. and other pest insects. Scientists estimate that bats provide an economic Guava value of $10 per bat per The brown flower bat year to walnut farmers (Erophylla sezekorni) and by protecting crops from the Greater Antillean potential worm infestations. long-tongued bat (Monophyllus redmani) Rice pollinate guava plants. Bats eat the striped rice borer moth, providing Mediterranean rice farmers a minimum of USD$23 per hectare in savings in Agave Nectar/ avoided pesticide use. tequila Tequila is produced from agave plants Other foods supported that in the wild rely on bats as their by bat pest control: primary pollinators. coffee, corn, pears, macadamia, cucumbers, Other foods supported by bat pollination: durian almonds and pecans

SEED DISPERSAL

Cashews Papaya Figs Other foods The Pteropus( Many bats, including the Figs belong to one supported by bat giganteus) disperses the seeds of Jamaican fruit bat, Great of the largest groups of woody plants, seed dispersal: the Cashew tree in the Madurai fruit-eating bat and Seba’s with about 800 species of figs worldwide. guava, bananas, region of India. short-tailed bat, disperse the As such, figs form a large part of the diet jackfruit and dates seeds of the papaya. of many fruit-eating bats, which spread their seeds far and wide.

batcon.org bats { 11 FEATURE By eating beetles, moths, mosquitoes and other agricultural pests, bats help increase crop yields and decrease the need for pesticides.

be crossbred with the Cavendish as a means of saving it. Unlike modern commercially grown A Very BCI Halloween Cavendish bananas, predecessor varieties along with extant wild bananas do require pollination. To celebrate the positive contributions bats make to This important fact explains the conditions our Halloween treats we invite you to get involved with under which bats have been romancing bananas some cooking fun. Help us spread the word about bats for millennia. and food during this year’s Bat Week (Oct. 25–31) by Pollen- and nectar-eating bats visit the fragrant, making one of BCI’s batty recipes (see related sidebar pendulous flowers of wild bananas, transferring on page 10)—or better yet, inventing one of your pollen as they rub against each new flower. They own—and then sharing the results with us and fellow forage, so the pollen they convey can come from bat lovers through social media. many miles away, ensuring a diverse genetic After you prepare your treats, simply snap a photo exchange. of your creation and post it, along with a brief note, “Many different species of bats are involved on Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest—be sure to tag in pollination,” says Ivan Buddenhagen, a banana BCI and use the hashtag “#battytreat.” Or just email expert who studied bats in Sumatra after retiring your food pics and descriptions, and any new recipes, from the University of California. “Bananas to [email protected]. seem to be adapted to bats by the way the Once all the responses are in, we’ll share the flowers emerge; bats and bananas probably images and a full recipe catalogue online. So get evolved together.” started on your ideas today and help us enjoy some Cullen Geiselman, chair of the board of batty treats for trick-or-treat season. directors of Bat Conservation International, studies bat pollination and seed dispersal in the New World tropics. She notes that bats also genetically strengthen other important species, including baobab, durian and, famously, agave, the plant species from which tequila and mescal is made. “Many bats are specialized for moving pollen from plant to plant,” Geiselman says. “There are also probably a lot of plants no one has ever heard of that bats are pollinating. They are maintaining those wild populations.”

Seed Dispersal: Fig What would you eat first from a plate loaded with figs, cashews and papayas? Tough call. You just know they’re all delicious. But it turns out that these three foods have even more in common: In the New World, all of them rely, in part, on bats to scatter their seed—ensuring their growth in optimal spots and helping to keep forests alive with a diverse mixture of flora. A Peters’ dwarf Figs are particularly important. They’re easy epauletted targets for bats, which swoop in, snatch up a fruit bat ( plump fruit, then perch elsewhere to devour pusilluse) enjoys the pulp. Seeds end up on the ground in one of

a piece of fruit. two ways: spit out as a juiceless nugget, or via Photo: Merlin Tuttle D.

12 }bats fall 2015 THE Corn is among the many foods and crops that bats support through pest control. Read the story on page 15 to learn more. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

in a narrow band near the equator, Theobroma cacao seems to be increasingly plagued by a variety of problems—disease and climate change, among others—and supply suffers accordingly. So any additional stress, including crop reduction due to insect pests, drives prices even higher. In Indonesia, the country that grows a third of the world’s cacao Sierra Orchards, trees, University of Göttingen a walnut farm in scientist Bea Maas questioned California’s Central farmers on what was responsible for Valley, has bat houses adjacent to its fields. controlling insects in their pesticide- Each enclosure houses free plantations. “Birds” was the about 100 bats, which unequivocal answer. feed on coddling Maas suspected bats had a greater moths and other pests role than anyone realized, and that that target the walnuts. birds received undue credit because of timing. Farmers simply observed more birds because they were active during the day, whereas bats are active at night. Over a 15-month period, Maas and 46 local helpers set up mesh cages to exclude birds during the day in some areas and bats at night in others. By preventing natural pest control within these cages, insects could devour cacao leaves and buds at will. Maas found that by excluding birds and bats, cacao yield on the plants in

Photo: Merlin Tuttle D. the cages was reduced by 30 percent, with bats accounting for 22 percent airborne defecation. Like birds, bats go on the go, of that total. At today’s market cost, that’s a but unlike birds, bats cross open spaces without reduction of $520 per hectare; translated to the hesitation. So their guano deposits often land in entire 1.6 million hectares of cacao in Indonesia, areas in need of reforesting—sites where species that’s a hit of $832 million. like fig and piper readily colonize. “Bats have a tremendous effect,” Maas says. “Bats are the farmers of the rain forest,” “Bat conservation is highly important for crop Geiselman notes. “They fly so far, and can be systems all over the world. It’s in the best good seed dispersers to help forests regrow. interests of farmers, but also to people who Humans might not notice if we didn’t have bats depend on them for food.” IMPACT to disperse certain plants, but on the level of So the next time you sit down for a meal or dig To learn more about forest regeneration, many animals rely on that, into your favorite Halloween candy, consider that the key role bats play in supporting our not just people.” there’s a very good chance that bats, somewhere food, agriculture and in the world, had something to do with how your related economies, Pest Control: Cacao food got there. visit batcon.org/ Deny it all you want, but it’s true: Chocolate is It’s one case where a fly-by-night operation has important. getting expensive. A fussy tree that grows only a very positive—and satisfying—conclusion. batcon.org bats { 13 bat QUESTIONS FORchats A NOTED EXPERT

Bats: How do the Bats: Surely it is not Japanese view a myth that many bats now? Japanese bats are Yushi Osawa: These endangered, though. days, bats are mostly Are any of the Japanese ignored, and we have bats threatened with fewer items with extinction? bat designs. And of Yushi: Many Japanese those designs, a lot bat species are represent the bat as threatened and a scary creature with some species might exaggerated fangs and be on the brink of red eyes. More recently, extinction. Of 37 though, we have had bat species in Japan, some good books and three are listed as documentaries on bats that are helping to Ryukyu flying fox shape a more positive A Ryukyu flying fox (Pteropus dasymallus opinion about them. yayeyamae) in Japan. We have begun to see some more designs that separate bats from the traditional Bat myths of Japan “creepy” groups, like spiders, snakes Separating scientific fact from cultural fiction and centipedes. Bat figures, mascots in the island nation and other various bat accessories have n the islands of Japan, word on the street has it that bats are pretty also become more critically endangered, creepy. But was it always this way? Bat researchers Keiko and Yushi acceptable among five are observed as OOsawa, who serve on the steering committee for The Bat Study and modern bat crafts. endangered, one is Conservation Group of Japan, help explain. considered vulnerable, Bats: Does Japan have and four remain near a similar holiday to threatened. The main Bats: How did the Bats: Does the rivers. A second option Halloween where bats threats to Japanese Japanese people view word for “bat” mean is that it came from the are featured? bats are increased bats in the past? anything special in word “Kawahari,” which Keiko: There isn’t any cave tourism and land Keiko Osawa: Until Japanese? means skin is stretched traditional Japanese development, which the 20th century, bats Keiko: In Japanese, between bones. But it holiday that features unfortunately result in were very popular the word for “bat” is also logical to believe bats. However, destruction. in Japanese culture. is “Koumori.” There that it was derived Halloween has been Under the influence are several possible from “Kawahori,” gaining traction in of Chinese culture, the explanations as to why which means eating Japan over the last DUE EAST bat was viewed as a bats were given this mosquitoes. Regardless, several years, so it is For more about bat conservation in Asia, good-luck symbol, and name. One explanation it is certain that people not uncommon to pass visit batcon.org/ its image was often is that it originated from back in the day did by a shop that creates our-work/regions/ used in pottery, sword the word “Kawamori,” not have a poor image bat-related designs with asia.

kilts and kimonos. which means protecting of bats. Halloween in mind. Osawa Yushi Photos:

14 }bats fall 2015 THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE AGRICULTURE Josiah J. Maine, a graduate student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, studied corn yields with and without bats providing pest control.

field notes RESE ARCH N E WS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

BCI-funded research reveals bats’ key role in the agricultural production of corn

Billion-dollarn the grassy cornfields of Southern Illinois, bats batsare Horseshoe Lake in Southern Illinois by graduate student on the hunt for insects, and according to new research, Josiah J. Maine and his adviser at Southern Illinois Ifarmers have a billion reasons to be grateful for it. University Carbondale, Justin Boyles. BCI-funded research recently published in the Maine conducted the experiment over the 2013 and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2014 growing seasons to test how corn fared with and confirms that bats play a significant role in combating without bats picking off various pests. To do this, he built corn crop pests, preventing more than $1 billion in crop “exclosures”—netted structures aimed at keeping bats damages around the world every year. This figure is based outside of them and away from the corn. The exclosures on a two-year experiment conducted in cornfields near were large; each enclosed crops in an area greater than Photo: Rusty Bailey SIU University Communication

batcon.org bats { 15 field notes The value of bats’ pest-control services to agriculture in the U.S. alone is estimated to range from $3.7 billion to $53 billion a year.

4,200 square feet and 23 After analyzing the results, Maine feet high. notes that he found nearly 60 Keeping the bats out percent more earworm larvae inside meant pests, such as the the exclosures—where they were corn earworm, were largely protected from the hungry bats— free to wreak havoc on the than in the unprotected control corn crops. But bats are areas. He also found: not the only predators of n 50 percent-plus more corn kernel these agricultural pests. damage per ear in the corn inside So to factor in these other the exclosures; variables, Maine went to n that the damaging fungal growth great lengths to ensure that associated with pests was only bats were excluded by significantly higher on the corn the structures. inside the exclosures; and “The exclosures had to n that the toxins produced by be removed daily so birds the fungus were much more could forage normally,” concentrated in the corn inside Maine says. “I arranged the the exclosures. netting so it could be slid on “By consuming crop pests,” Maine the cables to one end like a adds, “bats have tremendous shower curtain. This way I ecological impacts in crop fields. could open the exclosures Based on the difference in crop each day and close them damage I observed, I estimated each night,” before the bats that bats annually provide a service took to the air. to corn farmers worth about $1 In all, Maine built six billion globally. Bats likely provide exclosures, each of which additional value to agriculture by was paired with a control suppressing toxic fungi and reducing plot where bats could forage necessity for costly insecticides.” as they normally would. The implication of these findings This arrangement allowed serves as great news for agriculture him to directly compare and bat conservation alike, stresses pest abundance and crop BCI Executive Director Andrew damage between the Walker: “Corn is an essential crop

Photo: Rusty Bailey SIU University Communications exclosure and control plots. for farmers on over 150 million Researcher Josiah J. “The main pest in my hectares globally. This research Maine clears “exclosure” system was the corn earworm, a shows that by protecting bat species nets from corn fields moth whose larvae cause billions and their habitats we are not only during the day to allow of dollars’ worth of damage to corn, furthering conservation, but also birds and other daytime pest controllers to access cotton, tomatoes and many other helping to secure a vital food source the fields. crops,” Maine says. “The larvae for communities worldwide.” feed on corn ears, causing direct Already, the symbiotic damage to yield, but they also can relationship between farmers and introduce an avenue for infection bats seems to be taking shape. of the corn ear by fungi, which “I’ve had some interaction with the produce compounds that are toxic local farmers in Southern Illinois, A-MAIZE- to humans and livestock.” and from what I can tell, they are ING BATS While bats were known to feed very interested in the impact of bats To read an abstract on the adult moth of the corn on their farms, because it directly or full-text version earworm, this is the first study impacts their bottom line and the of the research, visit to directly document that they value of their crops,” Maine says. “My pnas.org and enter the author’s name consume enough of the moths to study provides strong support for into the search box. suppress larval populations and the idea that bats provide valuable damage to corn. services to society.”

16 }bats fall 2015 THE The Biodiversity Heritage Library’s collections contain over 46 million pages from 160,000-plus volumes of biodiversity literature from the 15th–21st centuries. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

CULTURE Fantastical images of “man-bats” were published with Richard Adams Locke’s satire, but many readers were The other not in on the joke. A satiric newspaper article that fueled batmanan incredible hoax

ell before In August of 1835, Bruce Wayne Locke published W started several stories in zipping up his Batman The New York Sun suit in 1939, the claiming Hershel had “man-bat” was already made a life-changing popping up in Western discovery—indeed, dialogue. that life itself had It started with a made it to the moon. telescope. In 1834, According to Locke, British astronomer animals of all varieties John Hershel owned could be found dotting the largest of its the moon’s hidden kind, measuring an meadows—cranes, impressive 20 feet oxen, even blue goats. in length. Equipped But nothing proved with his telescope more impressive than and curiosity, Hershel the man-like creature dedicated many of his adorned with robust nights to the South bat wings. Dubbed African sky, writing Vespertilio homo, or scientific reports “man-bat,” the creature based on his findings. was a walking—and But at the hands flying—fantasy, a the more extravagant hoax voyaged across of Richard Adams myth made real. astronomical theories oceans and continents, Locke, Hershel’s Though written of the day, Locke’s and helped launched factual reports quickly for the purpose of satirical series quickly The Sun as the most morphed into fantasy. ridiculing some of gained traction. The well-known newspaper GO SCI-FI in the world. The story You can find out became so widespread more about this and that The Sun’s owner other imaginative forbade Locke from tales, plus the retracting the story. scientific discoveries that inspired them, Instead, fantastical in the Fantastic images were published Worlds exhibition alongside the print, at the Smithsonian feeding the public’s National Museum hunger for more of American History. To plan on this intriguing a visit, head to “discovery” and americanhistory. perpetuating the myth si.edu.

Images: Smithsonian Biodiversity Heritage Library Heritage Biodiversity Smithsonian Images: further. batcon.org bats { 17 MAKING A DIFFERENCE

THANK YOU TO: Charitable Foundation Bruce and Mary Feay Ms. Susan B. Fulton Mrs. Tobyanne Berenberg ALL BCI EarthShare Mr. H. Rugeley Ferguson GE Foundation Ms. Kari Berglund EDP Renewables North America LLC Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Garden Ridge Women’s Club Mr. Ken Blake MEMBERS and Enel Green Power Ms. Michele H. Finley Ms. Amanda Giliotti Ms. Amanda Bowen Dr. Cullen Geiselman Ms. Cornelia P. Ford Dr. and Mrs. Joe and Sharon Mr. and Mrs. Duane Braun Supporters Green Spaces Alliance Mr. Gianluca Gera Goldston Ms. Coco Brennan We offer our deepest Mr. William N. Mayo Martin and Susan Giesecke Ms. Cynthia Gray Ms. Carla Brenner gratitude to the following The Leo Model Foundation Ms. Cynthia Wheary Hertlein Ms. Arvella Greenway Mr. Lawrence Broch individuals, families, National Renewable Energy Lab Mr. Bill Jackson Michael and Diane Greiner Janet and Bruce Bunch Monthly Recurring Members, (in-kind) Ms. Wanda C. John Dr. Ray Groover, Jr. Mr. William A. Bunch Matching Gift and Workplace Natural Bridge Caverns Derry and Charlene Kabcenell HW Wahlers Brad Lancaster and Maureen Burns Giving partners and Terry and Bill Pelster Katz Coffee Ms. Constance L. Hauver Dr. Deanna Byrnes participants, and foundations The Read Family Foundation Ms. Elysabeth Kleinhans Mrs. Rebecca G. Hayes Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Cadwallader and corporations for their Ms. Catherine Sachs Ms. Tillie Page Laird Ms. Trista Hoffman Ms. Holly Cameron generous support of BCI The Estate of Ms. Luida E. Sanders Cathy and George Ledec Lee and Chris House Dr. Martha Madison Campbell in the last quarter. Your The Walter C. Sedgwick Fund of the Ms. Linda Leyendecker Ms. Penny Hunt Ms. V. Joan Campbell donations help us protect Tides Foundation Dr. Lisa McMillan Ms. Lois Kail Mrs. Pam Capito bats and their habitats Brad and Shelli Stanback Moody Gardens Ms. Patricia Khan Mr. and Mrs. James M. Cavender, III around the world. Thank you Sun Edison Dennis Myers, DDS Mr. and Ms. Ray W. King Ms. Darlene Chirman all for your leadership and Mr. Herb Stumberg Ms. Heidi Nitze Mr. Michael J. Koski Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Christopher encouragement. Ms. Karen L. Van Dusen Mr. Joe Nochera Ms. Diane Lamb Mr. Tim Cliffe Cynthia Vann and Chuck Pease Jr. Mr. Roby Latimer Mr. Peter Compo $5,000–$9,999 Mr. Lars Pettersson Dr. Steve Lovelace Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Conant Note: All donations are through American Wind and Wildlife Institute Mr. Philip Puschel Mr. Kirk McKay Mr. Ernest Copley, III Aug. 31, 2015. (in-kind) Mr. Robert Rowe and Ms. Kerry Mello Mr. Dana D. Craig Anonymous (2) Ms. Joy Gaddy Ms. Susannah Miller Ms. Nancy Cronin $1 Million & Above Dr. and Mrs. Howard F. Burt Peter and Sara E. Ribbens Mrs. Ruth Moore Dr. and Mr. Susan The Bass Foundation Charles C. and Lael Chester Ms. Deborah A. Sabol Drs. Douglas and Susan Morrison and Heath Culp The Tim and Karen Hixon The Frank Cross Foundation Glenna Dowling and Judith Schultz Ms. Lynne Nelson Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Curley Foundation Detroit Zoological Society Candace Carroll and Len Simon Brian and Cindy Nichols Dr. Lora B. Davis The Kronkosky Charitable EarthShare of Texas Mr. Nicholas A. Skinner Ms. Beate Nolan Mr. Geoffrey P. Davis Foundation Fondation Ensemble Ms. Ann Stokes Ms. Laura Penn Ms. Helen B. Davis The Mays Family Foundation Ms. Susan A. Fredericks Barbara and Ed Sturm Ms. Ellen Petrick Mr. Chris Dobony Edward Gorey Charitable Trust Ms. Paula Szortyka Kris Gulbran and Doug and Diane Doers $100,000–$999,999 The Greller Gallery Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Pat Pielage Mr. Jon Duncan Ms. Rebecca M. Harvey Partnership (in-kind) Mr. Kent Purdy Mr. Frank Ehrhardt Anonymous Dr. and Mrs. Stanley J. Herman Kirsten Winter and Charles Van Ms. Bertina Richter Ms. Melissa Evans The Brown Foundation Esther F. Hope, D.V.M., D. A. B. T. Tassel Mr. John M. Roberts Ms. Barbara Fanta The Maltz Family Foundation Ms. Violet Margly Andrew and Christina Walker Mr. Donald Schnell Ms. Irene H. Fedun The Meadows Foundation Ms. Marie Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Marc Weinberger Schwab Charitable Fund Ms. Ginda K. Fisher Ms. Beth Robertson Mr. George M. Neall III Ms. Laurie L. West Wes Sechrest, Ph.D. Ms. Sandra E. Flores The Estate of Ms. Eileen D. The Negaunee Foundation Shell Oil Company Foundation Mrs. Nancy Florsheim Stonerod Norman Foundation, Inc. $500–$999 Matching Gifts Jack and Tillie Freeman The Woodtiger Fund Ms. Anne L. Pattee Mr. Michael Adami-Sampson Ms. Rebecca Simmons Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Hogan Lovells LLP (in-kind) Mr. Patrick Sands Mr. Andrew Baerst Ms. Corinne Smith Gina Gaedke Ms. Mary Simun Mr. Greg Brendel Mr. and Mrs. Cheryl Stegmaier Ms. Diana Gardener $50,000–$99,999 The Singing Field Ms. Monica Briess Mr. Dale Stevens Ms. Barbara Garwood Robert and Annie Graham Foundation Tracy Steelhammer and Jerri Brown Mr. Dick Taylor Mr. Micah M. Glynn Holloman Price Foundation Mrs. Mary D. Smith Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis Ms. Jaimie Trautman Mr. Mitchell Golden Bettina and Travis Mathis Brad and Shelli Stanback Ms. Susan B. Clark Joyce and Leonard Tufts Ms. Karin S. Goodlein Nancy and Jeff Moorman The Webber Family Foundation Ms. Cindy Cobb University of Bristol (in-kind) Mr. and Mrs. John B. Goodrich, Jr. Duke Energy The West Star Foundation Mr. David Cohn Mrs. Eleanora Worth Mr. Henry Gotsch Shield-Ayers Foundation The Yerba Buena Fund Ron and Karen Cozean Wildlife Artists Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Donald K. Grayson Mr. David Crabb Ms. Cathleen S. Zepelin Mrs. Helen B. Green $10,000–$49,999 $1,000–$4,999 Ms. Deborah M. Lott and Mr. John W. Mr. Robert Gregory Anonymous James and Marilyn Anderson Davidge, III $250–$499 Mrs. Helen Groves American Wind Energy Mark E. Anderson, Ph.D. Mrs. Amy Dickinson Sonal Abhyanker Ms. Laurie Gunst Association Mr. Hugo B. Barreca Ms. Barbara Dickinson Ms. Nancy Abraham Mr. John Hatchell The Band Foundation Benevity Ms. Nancy Dudley Ms. Penelope Ayers Barbara and Bob Hayden The Berglund Family Foundation Mr. Richard J. Blenz Dr. Virginia Eddy Ms. Terry Ball Mr. Jonathan Hayssen Mrs. Elizabeth Boeckman Dr. Michael Bodri Ms. Barbara Field Ms. Judith A. Barnes Brian Michel and Jo Ann Herr The Estate of Hans & Marlise Mr. and Mrs. Louis Brandt FirstGiving Dr. John E. Bassett and Mrs. Sue Mr. Lee Holcomb Bruijnes Charlie and Nancy Cheever Mr. and Mrs. Edwin and Regina Ford Bassett Ms. Anne Holt The Elizabeth Huth Coates Frank C. Eliot Mr. Tom B. Frederick Ms. Pat Bender Andrew and Sasha Honig

18 }bats fall 2015 THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE

Ms. Susan Hopkins Mr. Kurt R. Schwarz Dr. Gretchen Brummel Mr. Michael J. Koski Mr. Kent Russell J.R. Hoverman James Sciano Mr. Ken Bumann Ms. Diane Lamb Ms. Diane Sanders Dr. Robert J. Howe Mr. and Mrs. Tom Scribner Irene Cannon-Geary, PhD Dr. Fran Lang Ms. Rhonda Sanders Inner Space Cavern Mr. Robert Sharrar Mr. James Carter Mr. Rhett Lawrence Mr. Steve Saylor Ms. Mary Jasnowski Ms. Kay Sibary and Mr. Robert Mr. and Mrs. William and Janis Mr. Fred Levine Ms. Elnora Scheffler Ms. Sally Jordan “Buck” Shaw Catalano Mr. Alex Levy Mr. and Mrs. Steve Joan and Herb Kelleher Mr. Ronald I. Silverman R. M. G. Chadwick Mr. Nick Liberato Schildwachter Robert and Sally Kent Ms. Susan Sinclair Ms. Jenni Charrier Mr. Joseph LoBuglio Ms. Susy Schmitt Mr. Edward King Rear Admiral Andy M. Singer Ms. Willow Cheeley Ms. Dorrit Lowsen Steve and Mary Schneider Dr. Sarah J. Kinney Tom Butler and Mr. Tim Cliffe Mr. Christopher Lynch Drs. Jonathan Green and Joy Carla Knobloch Maryjane Spooner Ms. Cindy Cobb Ms. Gail MacColl Schochet Ms. Gail P. Kohl Ms. Lila C. Stevens Mr. David Cohn Mr. Doug Macmillan Ms. Jan Schroeder Mr. Robert Y. Kopf, Jr. Ms. Susan Stoddard Ms. Alison A. Corcoran Mr. Vaughn C. Maley, Jr. Ms. Jane Searight Ms. Martha Korbuszewski Dr. Robert Sundquist Ms. Tawny Corwin Ms. Susan Malinowski Ms. Judith Semple Ms. Jennifer Krauel Mr. Christopher Svara Ms. Pam Cox Mr. David March Mrs. Vanessa Servantes Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Priscilla Ms. Brandy Sweeney Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Daniels Mr. Dale L. Martin Mrs. Percy Severn LaBounty Jane and Tom Talamini Ms. Debra Davis Ms. Marsha Maslan Mr. Thomas Skryd Mr. James Lakner Mr. George R. Thompson and Mrs. Amy Dickinson Mr. Kevin McCarthy Mrs. Mary D. Smith Mr. Frank Langben Dr. Mary Fleming Finlay Mr. Martin Doudoroff Mr. David G. McKay Miss Emily Smith-Miller Mr. Jerry E. Leach Dr. Joseph R. Thurn, M.D. Mrs. Kimberly W. 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Mr. Tim Glover Ms. Rose Puntillo Ms. Joan Wattman Mr. and Mrs. John E. Newman, Jr. Elmwood Park Zoo Chapter of AAZK Mrs. Michelle Granson Mr. Kent Purdy Mr. Lee Weiskott Mr. John J. O’Hara The Fremont Group Foundation Mrs. Helen B. Green Ms. Patti Rankin Ms. Lynn A. Westberg Ms. Anne Olsofka Hewlett-Packard Employee Ms. Adele Gunnarson Ms. Patricia Reavy Anne and Pat Weston Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Anne Charitable Giving Program Mr. William Hanlon Dr. DeeAnn Reeder Mr. Gregg Williams Parrish Merck Foundation Mr. David Hannam Ms. Susan Reese Mr. Paul Williams Mr. Robert B. Paul Truist Dr. Kristine Henderson Ms. Ashby Remley Ms. Robyn Wilson Ms. Anita P. Pearson Richard E. and Toni Goldsmith Mr. Wade B. Holland Mr. Gabriel Reyes Mr. Matthew Yacobucci Ms. Anne Pearson Janea and John Pabst Ms. Anne Holt Warren and Jayne Richmond Dr. and Mrs. Larry Yates Ms. Susan Pioli Ms. Robin Huff Mr. Timothy Roan Dr. Katharine York Gene Phelps and Monthly Recurring Members Mr. Matthew Hunker Ms. Susan Rudnicki Bill Ahlers and Nancy E. Zink Rebecca Planer Mr. Michael Adami-Sampson Mrs. Pamela M. Husing Mr. Patrick Porter Ms. Luan Akin Ms. Marian Isaac Ms. Susan Potts Mrs. Donna Y. Aragona Ms. Joell Jacob DONATE TODAY Dr. Bruce A. Pregger Ms. JoEllen M. Arnold Ms. Gretchen Jaeger To make a tax-deductible donation to BCI, Ms. Christine Proctor Mrs. Margaret Bates Mrs. Kathleen Jaroszewski simply visit batcon.org/donate and fill in the Quittapahilla Audubon Soc. Andrea and Mike Benco Ms. Mary Jasnowski requested donation information. For a list of Ms. Nancy Radding Charlotte and Bill Bialek Ms. Mary Ann Joca other ways to support bats and BCI, go to Mr. Bruce Richbourg Dr. Pamela Blake Mr. Jared Johnson batcon.org/waystogive. Dr. Carolyn C. Rizza Ms. Jill Bodderij Mr. Bryan Jones Mr. Steven B. Robertson Ms. Christine Boisse J. Kinney and Tyra Kane Ms. Harriet Rutland Mr. Jerry Boxman Elizabeth Horton and Prefer to send a check? Please mail to: Mr. Donald J. Ruzin Ms. Marcia H. Braman Rita Kester Bat Conservation International Mr. Ron Rydarowicz Sherri and Robert Bray Ms. Elizabeth King 500 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Building 1 David and Cynthia Schraer Miss Elizabeth R. Brill Mrs. Marlene Korso Austin, TX 78746

batcon.org bats { 19 THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE bat FOR THE YOUNG CONSERVATIONIST

CLASSROOM RESOURCE Create your own bat-themed Halloween decorations with these The many faces of bats one-of-a-kind coloring templates

Getting Started 1. Visit batcon.org/color to find a bat- face template or two that inspire you. 2. Follow the instructions to download and print as many options as you choose. 3. Grab some art materials—markers, crayons or even watercolor paints. 4. Create your own bat masterpieces!

In addition to displaying your creations for Halloween, be sure to share them with us. Just take a picture of your finished work and post it to Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest with the hashtag “#BatArt.” And don’t forget to tag BCI.

lithographic prints produced from naturalist Ernst Haeckel’s original sketches and watercolors. rom wrinkled faces to enormous Born in 1834 in Potsdam, Germany ears, bats have some of the most (then Prussia), Haeckel served as a Fdiverse and interesting faces in professor of comparative anatomy and the animal kingdom. To celebrate the director of the Zoological Institute at many faces of bats—and to add a new the University of Jena. Kunstformen twist to your Halloween decorations der Natur, which is considered one this year—BCI has teamed up with of Haeckel’s most iconic publications, Smithsonian Libraries to bring you a helped popularize science among a range of bat-face coloring templates broad lay audience of the time. Today, taken from the pages of history. the work resides at the Smithsonian Artists both young and young at Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL). heart can express their creative flair With Haeckel’s engaging bat faces by adding unique colors to bat face as your starting point, draw on your outlines reproduced from some of the own creativity and naturalist spirit best illustrations in history. Each bat face to bring a personal touch of color is taken from Kunstformen der Natur to each page. And remember: Bats (Art Forms in Nature), a landmark work not only have many different facial in the field of naturalist illustration features; they also come in many

published in 1904 that contains 100 different colors. So don’t hold back! Biodiversity LibraryIllustrations: Heritage (BHL)

20 }bats fall 2015 on the

ON E L A S T Photo: Micaela Jemison Micaela Photo: LOOK

Handbuch der Naturgeschichte (Handbook of Natural History), by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, 1779, at Smithsonian Libraries’ rare books collections.

Bats through history

By MICAELA JEMISON, BCI Communications Manager

ur ever-changing knowledge of bats can be traced through historical records in scientific texts, many of which reside in the Smithsonian’s Orare book collection. BCI staff and our board of directors recently had the honor of touring the Smithsonian Libraries and seeing many of these DIGI BATS invaluable original books, some of which date as far back as the 15th century. The Smithsonian’s Highlights included reading the first mention of the word “Chiroptera” in Biodiversity Heri- tage Library is an Johann Friedrich Blumenbach’s manual of natural history, Hanbuch der open-source digital Naturgeschiche, published in 1779, and absorbing Darwin’s descriptions library of natural and sketches of bat species in The Zoology of the H.M.S. Beagle, a record of history. Texts are his travels to parts of southern South America, Tahiti and Australia on the freely available at 1831–1836 voyage. biodiversitylibrary. org; illustrations at flickr.com/photos/ biodivlibrary/ albums.

batcon.org bats { 21 NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID MADISON, WI PERMIT NO. 1259

P.O. Box 162603 Austin, TX 78716-2603 U.S.A.

BCI-004

Get into the Halloween Spirit Deck out the kids this Halloween with fun bat costumes, clothes and accessories from batgoods.com. From books to bat wings, batgoods.com has bat-themed products of all kinds. A portion of every sale supports the conservation work of Bat Conservation International.

Visit batgoods.com today.