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Revision as of 18:17, 27 January 2006
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The Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus) is a species of bat that is widely distributed throughout the eastern parts of North America, ranging west until Kansas and Texas, from eastern Mexico up north until southern Ontario.
Description
This reddish, yellowish and brownish bat is one of the smallest bats in eastern North America. The forearms are orange to red, and the wing membrane is black. Adults weigh between 4 to 8 g and reach a forearm length of some 3 cm.
Pipistrelles are nicknamed butterfly bats for their distinctive moth-like flight pattern.
Life history
Pippistrelles mate in autumn. The females store their mates' sperm inside their reproductive tracts during their hibernation in winter and ovulate in early spring. They hibernate alone or in small groups in caves or mines at temperatues around 10°C, and they usually return to the same hibernation places year after year. When they wake up from hibernation, the females form maternity colonies that are no bigger than 20 bats, whereas the males roost alone during summer. These colonies are usually exposed to more light than for any other bat species. After a gestation period of 44 to 60 days, two twin pups are born around June. (Most other species of bats give birth to only one offspring.) Each one weighs about 20% of its mother's weight. For the first few days after they're born the mother carries the blind and hairless pups. They grow fast and are flying within 14-21 days and stop getting nursed at four weeks of age.
Male pipstrelles live for about 15 years; the females can get as old as 10 years.
Feeding
These bats eat small insects. The hunt at the edges of forests, near streams or over open water and can achieve a speed of about 18 km/h. When the pipistrelles capture food they use the tail or wing membranes to restrain their prey. Some insects are even captured by their tail membrane. It forms a pouch and the bat bends its head in to grab the insect with its teeth. They can catch insects as much as every 2 seconds and increase their mass by 25% in only half an hour.
External links
- The Eastern Pipistrelle from Texas Parks & Wildlife.
- Pipistrellus subflavus at ADW.