Northern long-eared myotis

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Northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) are small, typically 5-10 g and 84 mm in total length (Whitaker and Hamilton 1998). The fur is dull brown on the dorsum and yellowish on the venter. Compared to other Myotis, these bats have long ears with a relatively long tragus in each ear.

[edit] General Habits

Females give birth to 1 pup each summer and often form large maternity colonies (30-60 individuals) consisting mainly of females and their young. In the fall, northern long-eared bats migrate to caves to hibernate. Migration distances are not known for this species. Northerns are often found roosting singly in caves, rather than in the large clusters typical of other Myotis species, like Myotis sodalis.

Foraging Habits Northern long-eared bats are well-suited to foraging in the forest interior. Echolocation calls have a classic frequency-modulated (FM) structure that allows these bats to navigate through cluttered environments. Further, their small size allows for more agility in dense vegetation. Long ears allow northerns to find even stationary insects. Northerns' diets are focused on moths (Lepidoptera), which they often capture by gleaning, or plucking, the insects from a surface. Gleaning is a unique foraging habit for insectivorous bats since many capture their prey in flight.

[edit] Distribution

This species is found from Nova Scotia to central Georgia, and as far west as northern Wisconsin and Saskatchewan.

[edit] References

Whitaker, J. O. and W. J.Hamilton, Jr. 1998. Mammals of the eastern United States. Comstock ublishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 583 pp.