Worldwide, bats vary in size from only slightly more than 2 grams to more than 2 pounds. The largest bats are called flying foxes and have a wing span up to 6 feet. Flying foxes live in southern Africa, India, islands of the South Pacific and northern Australia. The largest bat in Missouri, the hoary bat, has a wing span up to 16 inches. Bats in other parts of the world feed on a variety of food items.
Many species feed primarily on fruit, while others feed on nectar and pollen.
Some species eat the flesh of other animals, including fish, mice, birds, frogs, scorpions and even other bats. How Bats Eat All Missouri bats feed exclusively on flying insects. Bats capture insects with their mouths or by scooping them into their wing or tail membranes. After scooping an insect up, the bat reaches down and takes it into its mouth. This method of feeding causes the darting and swooping motions that people associate with bats flying around lights near their homes at night.