FOOD-HABITS OF THE ENDANGERED VIRGINIA BIG-EARED BAT IN WEST-VIRGINIA

Food habits of the endangered Virginia big-eared bat (Plecotus townsen dii virginianus) were determined by analyzing guano and culled parts o f insects collected in 1988 and 1989 from three maternity caves in eas tern West Virginia. Food availability was evaluated by light-trapping at forest edge and forest interior sites in the vicinity of the caves. Lepidoptera was the most important insect order in the diet, followed by Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera. Significant differences amon g bats from the different caves were observed in the percentage volume and frequency of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera. B ats selectively consumed Lepidoptera and avoided Coleoptera. Volume an d frequency of Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera in the diet we re positively related to their abundance in the forest interior. Patte rns of consumption of Diptera paralleled abundance at the forest edge. Lepidoptera wings accounted for 90% of culled insect parts, 70% of wh ich were from larvae that developed in forests.