PREY SELECTION BY 5 SPECIES OF VESPERTILIONID BATS ON SAPELO ISLAND, GEORGIA

Prey items obtained from fecal samples of 132 individuals representing five species of vespertilionid bats were compared to available prey a s determined by insect light trapping in foraging habitats on Sapelo I sland, Georgia. Four orders of insects dominated the diet of these bat s: Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera. Homoptera and Diptera were present in smaller proportions. All five bat species exhi bited significant selection for or against certain insect orders. The evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) consumed Coleoptera and Hymenoptera in proportion to their availability, but significantly fewer Homopter a than were available in the foraging habitats. Differences in feeding selectivity were observed between sexes and age groups. Adult male an d juvenile evening bats consumed significantly fewer Coleoptera and mo re Hymenoptera than were available in the foraging habitats; adult fem ales showed little feeding selectivity. The Seminole bat (Lasiurus sem inolus) consumed Homoptera and Diptera in significantly lower proporti on to their availability. The eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subfla vus) consumed significantly more Lepidoptera and fewer Coleoptera and Homoptera in proportion to their availability. The big brown bat (Epte sicus fuscus) fed mostly on Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, whereas the no rthern yellow bat (L.intermedius) consumed only Coleoptera and Hymenop tera.