Evaluation of Insectivorous Bat’s Diet at Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (R.E.A.C.H) BioD Centre, Cameron Highlands, Pahang

This study focused on insectivorous bat foraging habit, captured in Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (R.E.A.C.H by analysing their faecal pellets. Altogether, 60 samples of fecal obtained from the bats were found to contain nine insect orders namely Heteroptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Diptera, Odonata and Hymenoptera. In the diet of Myntis muricola, 50% of Coleoptera were found in faeces. For Rhinolophus stheno, the diets comprised of 83% of Odonata and 17% of the unknown samples. The diet of Kerivoula hardwickii consisted of 67% Diptera, 22% Odonata and 11% unknown samples. ln Myotis ather its pellets were found to have of 50% Diptera, and Coleoptera. The diet of Keriwula pellucida consisted of 15% Heteroptera, 10% Orthoptera, 24% Diptera and Odonata, 7% Coleoptera and unknown samples, 5% Trichoptera and Lepidoptera and 2% of Hymenoptera. This study provides useful baseline information about the diet analysis of insectivorous bats in the vicinity which largely consumed Diptera due to a considerable amount of mosquitoes (Culicidae) recorded in their faeces. Without a doubt, insectivorous bat could be considered as a good predator for mosquitoes in food chain and eventually will help to control the massive outbreak of mosquitos’ population.