Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of predation by a cave-dwelling bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, on the diapausing population of a troglophilic moth, Goniocraspidum preyeri

  • Note and Comment
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Abstract

The predation pressure of the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, on the diapausing population of the noctuid moth, Goniocraspidum preyeri, was examined at an abandoned mine in central Japan. These bats did not prey on the moths in summer. The number of moths preyed on was largest in March. More than 60% of the diapausing moths were eaten by only three or four bats, which accounted for over 90% of all the moth deaths. This moth was an important source of food at the end of the hibernating period when the bat had already used most of its stored subcutaneous fat. The predation on G. preyeri may have raised the overwintering success rate of R. ferrumequinum.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Altringham JD (1996) Bats — biology and behaviour. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson CB, Gottschalk KW, Jameson JE (1999) Tree mortality following defoliation by the European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) in the United States: a review. For Sci 45:74–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Inoue H, Sugi S, Kuroko H, Moriuti S, Kawabe K Owada M (1982) Moths of Japan, vol I (in Japanese). Kodansha, Tokyo

  • Jones G, Duverge PL, Ransome RD (1995) Conservation biology of an endangered species: field studies of greater horseshoe bats. Symp Zool Soc Lond 67:309–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones G, Rydell J (2003) Attack and defense: Interactions between echolocating bats and their insect prey. In: Kunz TH, Fenton MB (eds) Bat ecology. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 301–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Kegg JD (1973) Oak mortality caused by repeated gypsy moth defoliations in New Jersey. J Econ Entomol 66:639–641

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuramoto T (1972) Studies on bats the Akiyoshi-dai Plateau, with special reference to the ecological and phylogenic aspects (in Japanese with English abstract). Bull Akiyoshi-dai Sci Mus 8:7–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurata M (1990) Aestivating and hibernating habits of Goniocraspidum preyeri Leech. Records of moths in the northern part of the Japan Alps. XII. (in Japanese). Yugato(120):57–63

  • Oszako T (2003) European oak decline. Phytopathology 93(6):S102

    Google Scholar 

  • Park KJ, Jones G, Ransome RD (1999) Winter activity of a population of greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). J Zool Lond 248:419–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Ransome RD (1968) The distribution of the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, during hibernation, in relation to environmental factors. J Zool Lond 154:77–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Ransome RD (1971) The effect of ambient temperature on the arousal frequency of the hibernating greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, in relation to site selection and the hibernation state. J Zool Lond 164:353–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Ransome RD (1990) The natural history of hibernating bats. Christopher Helm, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ransome RD (1991) Greater horseshoe bat. In: Corbert GB, Southern HN (eds) Handbook of British mammals, 3rd edn. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 88–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Sano A (2001) A population study of the Japanese greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, in the Izumo mines, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan (in Japanese with English summary). Bull Mie Pref Sci Tech Prom Ctr 13:1–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Sano A (2005) Distribution of Goniocraspidum preyeri (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Mie Prefecture (in Japanese). For Pests 54:15–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons NB, Conwat TM (2003) Evolution of ecological diversity in bats. In: Kunz TH, Fenton MB (eds) Bat ecology. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Ill., pp 493–535

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugi S, Yamamoto M, Nakaomi K, Sato R, Nakajima H, Owada M (1987) Larvae of larger moths in Japan (in Japanese). Kodansha, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to S. Ito (Mie University), T. Hougen (Wakayama Research Center of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) and T. Mano (Toyota Yahagi River Institute) for their valuable advice.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mie Prefectural Science and Technology Promotion Center, Nihongi, Hakusan, Mie, 515-2602, Japan

    Akira Sano

Authors
  1. Akira Sano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akira Sano.

About this article

Cite this article

Sano, A. Impact of predation by a cave-dwelling bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, on the diapausing population of a troglophilic moth, Goniocraspidum preyeri. Ecol Res 21, 321–324 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-005-0122-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-005-0122-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation