This article covers one job in detail: bat house pest control. If you want to know which insects a resident colony actually takes, what that does to the bug pressure in a garden, and how bats compare with sprays and traps, this is the page for it. In North America, bats are important predators of night-flying insects, including many agricultural pests. A single little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in a single night. Bats use echolocation to navigate and forage for food in complete darkness.
There are 45 species of bats in North America, and more than 1,200 species worldwide. Bats are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Bats are important animals in many ecosystems, serving as pollinators and predators of insects. Unfortunately, their populations are declining in many areas due to habitat loss and other factors.
One way that people can help bats is by putting up bat houses.
For the wider picture, including pollination, guano, seed spread and conservation value, see our full list of the 7 benefits of bat houses. Everything below stays on pest control.
What a Bat Colony Actually Eats
Insectivorous bats in North America hunt whatever is flying after dark: mosquitoes and midges, moths, beetles, leafhoppers, flying ants, and a long list of garden and agricultural pests. Moths matter more than most gardeners realize, because the adults a bat takes tonight are the ones that would otherwise lay eggs on your crops. Bats also hunt on the wing across a wide area rather than over your lawn alone, so the effect spreads across a neighborhood instead of stopping at your fence line.
What that changes day to day is the evening. Peak bat activity overlaps almost exactly with peak mosquito activity, the hour or so after sunset, which is the hour most people actually want to be outside. A colonized habitat near a patio or vegetable garden usually means fewer insects circling at exactly the time you are sitting out there.
Bats Compared With Insecticides and Traps
Sprays and foggers knock down whatever is present when you apply them, pollinators included, and they need reapplying. Bug zappers kill indiscriminately and take a large share of harmless night insects. Propane traps target mosquitoes more precisely but cost money to run and cover a limited radius. A bat habitat works differently: one install, no running cost, and it keeps working every night once occupied without removing anything from the garden you wanted to keep. The tradeoff is control. You do not get to decide when the bats hunt, or whether they turn up at all.
What to Realistically Expect
A bat habitat will not eliminate mosquitoes from your property, and anyone promising that is selling you something. Bats are opportunistic feeders. They take mosquitoes alongside everything else on the wing, and mosquitoes breed faster than any predator can clear them. What a colony does deliver is a real reduction in overall night-flying insect pressure, every night, for years, with no input from you. Treat it as one strong layer in a wider approach, alongside removing standing water and keeping the garden tidy, rather than a single fix.
Why Pest Control Draws People to Bat Boxes
Bats are one of the most important animals in the world. They help to control insect populations, pollinate plants, and spread seeds. They also play a vital role in the ecosystem by eating insects that would otherwise destroy crops.
Unfortunately, bat populations are declining in many parts of the world. This is due to a variety of factors, including habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. One way we can help bats is by providing them with homes, or bat boxes.
Bat boxes are structures that provide bats with a place to roost, mate, and raise their young. They are often made out of wood and have ventilation holes to keep the bats cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Bat boxes are important because they provide bats with a safe place to live. They can also help to increase bat populations.
What do Bat Boxes do?
If you've ever seen a bat box, you may have wondered what it is and what its purpose is. Bat boxes are structures that are designed to provide roosting and breeding habitat for bats. They are often placed in areas where there is a lack of natural roosting habitat, such as in urban areas.
Bat boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all serve the same basic purpose - to provide a safe place for bats to live and breed. If you're interested in helping bats, you can purchase one from our online store.
How to Build a Bat Box
A bat box is a great way to provide shelter for these important creatures, and it's a straightforward project that you can do yourself. In this article, we'll show you how to build a bat box that will provide a safe and comfortable home for your bats.
Building a bat box is a straightforward process that anyone can do. All you need is a few basic materials and some basic tools. With a little bit of effort, you can build a bat box that will last for years and provide a safe haven for these important animals.
So let's get started!
First you have to pick the ideal location for your bat house. Make sure the location you are getting for your bat house has;
- Lots of sun
- Is at least 15 feet high and off the ground
- Has a good running water source nearby
Interestingly, bats are much less attracted to bat houses that are mounted on trees. So you would have to install long timber logs to keep the bat boxes fixed at the right place and then make sure you have them installed all around your property.
Proper placement is key to getting these benefits. Our Bat Box Placement Guide helps you find the perfect spot for your box.
Here are all the steps involved in making a good bat box.
- Wood Cutting
- Putting grooves on the back piece
- Staining inside the bat house
- Caulking and screwing everything
- Priming and painting the bat house
- Mount the Bat House
Lastly, if this is your first time with bat boxes you might want to get an already built bat box to avoid any inconveniences! The already built bat boxes are easier to handle and mount around your property.
Ready to welcome bats into your backyard? Explore our Bat Houses Collection to choose the perfect model for your home.
In the end, bats do much more than eat insects. They protect ecosystems. Learn more in The Night Guardians: The Importance of Bats to Our World.
