Bats & Bat Houses

Bats in Agriculture - IPM

Insectivorous bats are a valuable ally in the control and management of numerous agricultural pest species. Ecosystem services provided by insectivorous bats to the agricultural sector in the USA alone has been estimated at 3.7 Billion dollars per annum.

Bats and Stables

The incorporation of bat houses in the mitigation of African Horse Sickness (AHS) within stable and equine environments across southern Africa.

Ecosystem services provided by bats

Bats an effective biological control against significant insect pest species including the Mealy bug (Planococcus ficus), Stink bug (Bathycoelia natalicola) and False-codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) which occur on farms throughout Southern Africa.

About bats

Bats are fast and agile animals with an insatiable hunger for insects, and can consume hundreds of bugs and mosquitoes in a single night. Perhaps it’s the unknown and secret world of these amazing animals that make people uneasy; and it is this lack of knowledge that perpetuates imaginative myths, negative perceptions and makes them feared, hated and eradicated.

Bat species

The Order of bats, called Chiroptera by scientists, is the most diverse group of mammals in the world second only to the Order Rodentia (rodents). There are over 1100 species of bats, which occur in all parts of the world except for the most extreme desert and polar regions.

Why is my bat box empty?

There are many reasons why bats may choose not to live in a bat box. They are wild animals and, like all wildlife, cannot be totally controlled by humans, or forced to move into a bat house. Current research is increasing our knowledge of the factors that determine whether a bat chooses to live in a roost or not.

Bat Detectors

EcoSolutions is the sole agent of the Baton and Batbox III D bat detectors in South Africa.