However, in urban areas they frequently utilize attics or areas behind shutters and downspouts. These bats feed exclusively on insects. They devour more mosquitoes and other insects than birds and bug zappers do, but people usually do not perceive bats as beneficial. Benefits of Bats Bats are one of the most feared and least regarded mammals on earth. Many millions of bats die each year out of human fear and ignorance, and coupled with habitat destruction and roost loss, bat numbers are declining rapidly.
Bats are one of the major predators of night flying insects.
A decrease in bat numbers allows the insect population to increase substantially. This means more mosquitoes, Gypsy moths, Japanese beetles, and a long list of other insect pests. Besides eating insects, bats also pollinate plants like the saguaro cactus in the western states. Without bats to pollinate this cactus, the whole desert ecosystem is at risk. Many types of bats eat fruit in the tropical rainforests.