Finally, a small group of bats became permanent residents in 1994, and in 1995, a maternity colony moved in. Over the summer season, thousands of people gather nearby to witness the bats' nightly emergence. It's been a very good opportunity to educate the public and dispel the myths and fears about bats. Recently, when the university considered developing the land where the bat house is situated, more than 20,000 people petitioned the Florida governor's office in favor of preserving the bat house. Larvae from the codling moth have been found in the Texas Hill Country, and can cause severe damage in orchards.
Bats are natural enemies of moths, which are night fliers.
We haven't had to use insecticides in several years. I like that, and so do our customers. The first bat house was installed near the Adams' home, providing an alternative roost for bats that had taken up residence in recessed light fixtures. A year after the house went up, it was full, and the Adamses have been adding new houses ever since. Last summer, Japanese public television visited us and stayed late, filming the bats as they swooped in and out of the orchard.