Bats usually conjure up a thought of horror, this is because they are usually seen in scary movies and come out at night. I tried to find out why they exist by searching the internet. Bats are quite beneficial to us, this article explains why.
Initially I had no idea as to the benefits of bats for humans and for the environment. I found that they are able to pollinate some of the most precious plants and help rectify deforestation. They can help us control the inset population as insects are one of their sources of food. They can also be beneficial medically as they can be used to create drugs that help with stroke symptoms.
Pest controllers
We as humans try to kill pests using a variety of pest control methods. But there is a natural way that nature regulates the insect population. Bats are nature’s pest control organisms, they eat insects keeping them away from crops and plants and ensuring that crops and plants flourish. They are the natural predators of the variety of flying and crawling insects such as mosquitoes, frogs, moths, beetles, fish, lizards and more.
Pollinators
They pollinate flowers and plants similar to the way that bees and wasps can. As they look for and eat nectar from flower to flower, the pollen attaches to their fur and transfers as it moves from one flower to another. This type of bat pollination produces fruit and seeds, there are over 530 plants which can be pollinated by bats.
Plants throughout the tropics which open during the night time are dependent on bats as they carry the pollen from one to other as bats eat the nectar. This way they are helping with the survival of rain forest plants, some of these plant species are critical and endangered plants. Traits of nocturnal plants that are pollinated by bats are plants which have white or pale hues and are large and bell shaped.
This way bats also help other organisms as the pollination creates more plants which other organisms in the environment create habitats in.
Other well-known plants that bats can pollinate are species of mango, cocoa, guava, durian, banana and agave. Although these plants are not wildly grown as much (rather commercially cultivated) that bats are still instrumental in the upkeep in the wild. We need them to ensure that we have a variety of genetic material for testing, this is highly beneficial.
Guano for gardens
Bat droppings are called guano, if properly processed it is good for our gardens. This product contains a beneficial level of nitrogen, potassium and phosphate. All these elements are good for the health of flowers and roots helping them grow. You will find guano on the floors of bat colonies during bat mating season.
Guano has a long history of being used as a plant fertilizer. It is rich in nutrients, this is because bats produce it from the digested food. Guano is made from both fruit and insect eating species of bats.
The advantages of this is that:
- Its first act acting,
- Has little to no odor
- Can be used both during the plant growth stages or prior to the crop being planted.
- The effect it has on plants is that they become healthy and bright green.
- It is also helpful as it is known to control the nematode population in the soil
- It can also help to activate compost, thus enabling the decomposition process to be faster
To use it simply apply as a top dressing or you can work it into the soil. This can be used fresh or dried. It definitely saves on costs as this can be used in smaller quantities than other types of compost but still having the same or more quantities of nutrients
Seed dispersal
Bats contribute to seed dispersal as they eat fruits as well as the seeds in the fruits of different plants. As they travel they go around dispersing the seeds in their droppings in various locations.
They are beneficial as they can help rejuvenate threatened tropical forests which have been depleted by deforestation. This deforestation is a result of human activity such as fires and urbanization. As well as climate change, illness or disease in that part of the forest.
Because of the diversity of bat species and their diets bats disperse more seeds than birds do as a result of the large amount of species. They are beneficial because they eat fruit and seeds from established areas of the forest and as they travel to less established areas or areas depleted by deforestation they drop the feces. This feces contains the seeds of the pioneer plants species and are dispersed in the younger and barren areas.
Human health – bat saliva
Bats have been helpful to science and humans by helping in creating navigational aids for blind people as well as in aiding in artificial insemination techniques, birth control solutions and drug testing with regards to human health. As well as aiding in technology of and the understanding of low-temperature surgical procedures
In recent studies a drug made from the saliva of vampire bats has been shown to restore blood flow to the brain after people experience stroke symptoms. This result was successfully achieved in patients who had the highest dose of the drug. After 90 days of the treatment 60% of the people involved in the tests reported symptoms improving and were able to live independently being able to “complete the activities of daily living”. This is a very promising because generally patients who do not get medical attention quickly enough suffer more. You can take the drug up to 9 hours after the onset of symptoms
A good omen
If a bat flies in your house it said to represent good fortune and good luck for the new year. It is seen to be a physical expression of what’s coming.
In some beliefs it can be a good omen and indicates the beginning of a major transition. It is known to be full of goodness because it’s a guardian. Its senses are always on high alert. If you see bats in your dreams it is said to symbolize personal feelings of wanting a change, a killer of the old and paving the way for rebirth.
If it is your spirit animal it means you are a person who is aware of their surroundings. You are very perceptive person and you can clearly see people and situations as they are.
In the Chinese language the word bat is the word for good fortune, they are a symbolism for happiness and joy. The Chinese are known to wear bat amulets made of various materials. These can which can bring courage good fortunes as well as healthy and long lives.
Dangers of bats
Although they are helpful they can be dangerous. Not because they might contaminate your food pantries such a rats mice. They can’t suck your blood such as mosquitoes. These so-called flying mice can spread diseases that might be detrimental to you and your family. These diseases that can be passed on to humans can include rabies.
If you suspect you have a bat infestation then you can use various treatments to try and control them. You can use traps, mothballs, phenol or aerosols. This article will also help you find a method of getting rid of them. I also recommended calling a professional to get your bats cleared out.
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