Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

Bats against insect pests

Horseshoe bats adapt their diet to the seasons of the year and have also been shown to help control some pests not detected by farmers.

In fact, according to a study conducted by researchers at the UPV/EHU in seven large and permanent bats colonies in the Basque Country, bats change their diet flexibly and eat insects that appear at any given time.

Researchers from the UPV/EHU have studied the excrement of bats from two colonies of Balmaseda, Zarautz, Matxinventa, Ujué and Cáseda, and have analyzed the DNA samples of the ingested insects, they have ingested three tons of potentially plague insects during their breeding and breeding season.

Many of these insects go unnoticed by farmers, so they do not take precautions against them, but insects from pests affecting vineyards, fruit trees, vegetables and nuts have also been detected among bats.

Research has highlighted the need to protect bat habitats, which play an important role in the detection and reduction of current and future pests in agricultural environments.