Though many people are frightened of bats, they actually have good qualities that you can appreciate. Forget those rumors that they will suck your blood, attack your hair, and give you rabies. They are harmless and actually have more good attributes than bad. If you are a gardener, you might already know this is to be true.

For example, a bat's diet mainly consists of insects that can be harmful to gardens as well as humans. This means that our batty friends keep pesky bugs, such as mosquitoes, gnats, moths and midges, down to a minimum. The consumption of moths is particularly important because they can produce caterpillars which can cause great damage to your crops.

Since bats eat so many bugs, it is only natural that they poop. As nasty as that sounds, their excrement, also known as guano, will act as a sort of fertilizer for your garden.

Another reason why bats deserve more respect is because some of them can even pollinate your crops. The Lesser Long-nosed Bat is a prime example. As its name entails, this creature has a rather long and narrow nose that can fit into flowers. When it flies from flower to flower then, it carries the pollen and distributes it to other flowers.

Besides having their place in the garden, bats are very important to have around in the world as a whole. If you live in the tropics, bats in your area may have another benefit. Short-tailed Fruit Bats of South and Central America are just one species that can actually spread seeds to help produce more crops. When they eat fruit, they will drop the seeds to other areas, thus creating new life and keeping valuable crops abundant. Some bats have been beneficial in scientific research as well, such as in the fields of birth control, navigational aids for the blind, etc. Many people even eat bats!

As you can see, the benefits of bats are priceless. If you want to encourage bats to visit your home, provide bat houses and a good source of water for them. Before you know it, you will notice the many good attributes bats have to offer.

Learn more about this author, Kelly A. Mello.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about How bats can be helpful guests in your garden?
We want to hear your view. Write now!