All Pennsylvania bats belong to family Vespertilionidae, and are also known as evening bats or common bats. They are insect eaters, taking prey on the wing. Often they feed over water, and some species occasionally land and seize prey on the ground. A bat consumes up to 25 percent of its weight at a single feeding. The eyes of our bats are relatively small, but their ears are large and well developed.
Unique adaptations help bats fly and catch prey in total darkness.
Split-second reflexes help the creature change flight direction to dodge obstructions or intercept prey. A bat will use its mouth to scoop a small insect out of the air. A larger insect is often disabled with a quick bite, cradled in a basket formed by the wings and tail, and carried to the ground or to a perch for eating. If an insect takes last second evasive action, the bat may flick out a wing, nab its prey, and draw the insect back to its mouth. Bats have sharp teeth to chew their food into tiny, easily digested pieces.