Bats have a diverse diet that varies widely depending on the species:
- Most bats are insectivores, feeding primarily on insects such as beetles, moths, mosquitoes, gnats, and other flying or crawling insects. Insectivorous bats are highly effective hunters, with some species consuming thousands of insects in a single night to meet their high metabolic needs
- Fruit bats (frugivores) eat fruit, berries, leaves, bark, nectar, and pollen. They often crush fruit to extract juices and may also consume some insect larvae found on fruit
- Some bats are carnivorous, preying on small animals like frogs, lizards, birds, fish, and even other bats. For example, fishing bats catch fish using specialized claws
- A few species, known as vampire bats, feed on the blood of mammals and birds, mainly livestock such as cows, sheep, and horses. They make small cuts in the skin to lap up blood and require only a small amount daily
In summary, bats' diets include insects, fruit, nectar, small vertebrates, and blood, with insectivory being the most common feeding habit globally, especially among species in temperate regions like the UK and the US
