Bats

"We see then that the bat is a very wonderful creature, one of Nature's
triumphs and masterpieces."
- W. H. Hudson

introduction

Bats make up the order Chiroptera, and represent about 20% of all mammal species worldwide. There are over 1,400 species of bats, an overwhelming majority of which are insectivores, frugivores, and nectarivores. These nocturnal animals are famous for their roosts which can vary in population from a single bat to millions. Most species are highly social, living in colonies and exhibiting complex social behaviors like vocal communication, forming long-term friendships, and sharing food. There are two main suborders of bats: Megachiroptera (Megabats) and Microchiroptera (microbats or echolocating bats). Microbats are not always smaller than Megabats; the major differentiating factors between the two groups are that Microbats use echolocation to navigate and find prey and eat insects, fruit, nectar, pollen, and animals, while Megabats have well-developed eyesight and eat only fruit, nectar and pollen.

Bat Behavior

Bats are the only mammals capable of true, self-sustained flight, which they use as their main mode of transportation. Some species can reach upwards of 100 miles per hour in flight. Some bats can walk, though most are clumsy on the ground. When not flying, bats hang upside-down from their feet.

The Bracken Bat Cave in Texas is home to the world's largest bat colony.

Baby bats are called pups, and most female bats only have one pup per year.

Bat Species

More than half of the bat species in the United States are in severe decline or listed  as endangered. The world's largest bat is the 'flying fox' which lives on islands in the South Pacific.
Camponotus spp.
(Carpenter Ant)
These ants form nests in tree stumps and wood structures, and range from 1/4 to 1/2 in. long. They are either black or red and black.
Linepithema humile
(Argentine Ant)
These ants go after sweets and proteins, and nest outdoors in shallow mounds. About 1/8 inch long and dull brown
Liometopum occidentale
(Velvety Tree Ant)
These ants also release an odor when crushed, and have brown-black heads and velvety black abdomens. They nest in deadwood.
Monomorium pharaonis
(Pharaoh Ant)
Nesting in wall or cabinet voids, behind baseboards or insulation, or outdoors in debris piles, these ants are 1/16 inch long and honey-colored.
Solenopsis invicta
(Red Imported Fire Ant)
These ants make their homes in mounds and sometimes in walls, and 1/16-1/5 inch long. They are reddish with dark brown abdomens.
Solenopsis molesta
(Thief Ant)
These ants prefer greasy, fatty foods and will steal food and larvae from other nests. They form colonies in soil, under rocks and wood, and in walls or under baseboards in homes. They are 1/32 inch long and are yellow to light brown.
Solenopsis xyloni
​(Southern Fire Ant)
From 1/8 to 1/4 inch, with amber heads and thoraxes and black abdomens. Nests in small mounds in wood or under rocks. Eats proteins and sweets.
Tapinoma sessile
(Odorous House Ant)
These are 1/8 inch long, dark brown-black and shiny, and release a strong odor when crushed. They nest in shallow mounds, walls, and warm areas.
Tetramorium caespitum
(Pavement Ant)
These ants make nests in lawns or under objects and also create mounds. They are 3/16 inch long and dark brown to blackish.

Bats in the garden​

Bats in the garden are beneficial for several reasons, including as a natural pest control and as a source of fertilizer. To attract them, plant native, night-blooming plants, provide a water source, install a bat box, and avoid using pesticides. Bat droppings, called guano, are one of the richest fertilizers. Over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination. Bats help spread seeds for nuts, figs and cacao and are important pollinators for banana, avocado, mango, agave, and saguaro cactus. Scientists estimate that insect-eating, or insectivorous, bats may save farmers roughly $23B each year by reducing crop damage and limiting the need for pesticides. Most, on average, can eat up to half their body weight in insects, while pregnant or nursing mothers will consume up to 100 percent of their body weight each night.

Increased Decomposition
​Ants may be small, but they can provide a strong, motivated workforce to locate, break up, and feed on decaying leaves and dead insects (and animals). They break down this organic matter into the soil, making it available to organisms farther down the soil food web. Think of them is mini fertilizing machines for the garden.

Free Pest Control
Although ants do protect some of the more annoying pest species of the garden, they also help to control some insect species. They will consume insect eggs, stopping harmful pests from reproducing and damaging plants. They can also hunt down and eat caterpillars, which prevents them from consuming fruits or plant leaves.

Soil Aeration
Ants aerate soil as a side effect of their movement through it. They commonly dig tunnels in the ground, allowing more oxygen to reach plant roots. Tunnels will also have the added benefit of increasing water drainage capacity of soils, especially clay or compacted ones. 

Critical Assistance
Ants act as plant life assistants, able to disperse fallen seeds father away from parent plants to other areas of the landscape. Colonies will feed on the outer shell of seeds, and discard the inner portion, which is then free to sprout and form a new plant.
Although ants are generally considered to be forces of good in the garden, some of their behaviors can interfere with our landscaping in both small and large ways. They can also be pests of homes or other structures. Ants can encourage the growth and development of pest species that produce honeydew. Many insects feed by sucking out the juices from plant stems and leaves, and the byproduct they create from this feeding is a substance comprised of sugars and amino acids. Ants love this byproduct, so much that they will go to great lengths to protect the species that produce it. In addition, they will also eat plant leaves, which can destroy foliage and reduce crop yields. Leaves are essential to plants due to their photosynthetic power, and loss of foliage can lead to poor plant growth. Finally, some species of ants can pose an issue in residential areas due to their proclivity for destroying wood. They can destroy entire wooded areas if their population grows too large, and when all outdoor sources of wood are broken down, they will move to other structures, like outdoor wood furniture and the foundation of homes. If ants are posing an issue in the landscape or in the home, it is very important to know how to manage them. 

Monitor Hot Spots
Where ants or honeydew-producing pests have been an issue in the past, inspect the trunks and branches of those plants in late winter or early springtime. Also, inspect the soil around the base of the plant and look for ant trails. It is best to look for ants during the warm times of the day in cool weather and cooler times of the day during hot weather.

Keep Things Tidy
Remove irrigation water, leaf litter, mulch and vegetation at least several inches back from the foundation or walls of buildings where ants are not welcome visitors. It will discourage them from finding small entryways into the structure, which will keep them from causing any structural damage.

Manage Pest Populations
Ants are huge fans of honeydew, excreted by various organisms including Aphids, Mealybugs, Scale, Whiteflies, and Psyllids. If the populations of these garden insects are controlled, ant populations will not have the energy needed to form large colonies in the landscape.

Seal It Up
Ants enter buildings through very tiny cracks and crevices. To exclude ants from interior spaces, make sure to seal every crack possible. It is also suggested to add weather stripping to doors and windows to help them seal more tightly, as well.
Insecticide sprays formulated for ants should not be used in the home garden. They are not very effective, killing only the foraging ants that leave the nest. They also commonly contain pyrethroids, which are blanket insecticides that kill a wide variety of insects, including beneficials, in the landscape. Baits are typically the most effective against ants, and have the potential to kill entire colonies without contaminating the garden with pesticide. Baits must be slow-acting to be truly effective. They do require some patience, but provide longer control of ants than sprays do. For the most economical treatment of ants, put out traps in late winter or early springtime, before ant populations explode for the year. Situate them near any nests that have been identified, at the base of plants frequented by ants, and along foundations or walls where ants have been observed inside. Never put bait traps indoors; this will only encourage more ants to come inside the home.
Bait stations can be single-use or refillable and reusable. Single-use bait stations can be used anywhere outdoors, and require users to remove a piece to open up the bait to ants. Reusable, refillable stations, on the other hand, require the mixing of sugar water and the insecticide. Slight changes in the makeup of the products included in these bait stations can dramatically reduce their effectiveness, For example, Boric acid concentrations higher than 1% are less effective than products with 0.5% to 1% boric acid, because higher borate concentrations repel ants.
Another option for exclusion of ants from certain areas are sticky barriers. These physical barriers are wrapped around trees or the trunks of other plants to prevent ants and other wingless insects from climbing to reach the twigs and leaves. These products are more effective when they are applied above where irrigation can reach. Avoid applying them horizontally; they can inadvertently harm roosting birds. Check these traps every few weeks, and replace as necessary. A trail of dead ants can provide a great bridge for ants to cross over.
For more information on creating a comprehensive pest management system in your garden, consult the following page:

Videos

Learn about the various activities of ant colonies in this informative, engaging video.
Ant colonies are complex congregations.

Resources & References

Bats 101