Common name:Evening bat Scientific name: Nycticeius humeralis Family: Vespertilionidae
Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.
Description: The fur of the evening bat is usually a dark brown, but may also have a bronze to reddish tint. It has short dark ears and the muzzle is broad, unfurred and nearly black. This species closely resembles the big brown bat, but is smaller in size. Wingspan: 10-11 inches Body length: 1.9-2.6 inches Weight: 0.2-0.4 ounces Florida roosting preferences: Colonial. Colony sizes range form just a few to around seventy or so bats. They roost behind loose bark and the crevices and cavities of dead trees. On a few occasions they have been found in Spanish moss. They also roost in buildings, bridges, the brackets on utility poles, and bat houses. Food preferences: Insectivorous. They feed on beetles, planthoppers, true bugs, flies, mosquitoes, moths, flying termites, flying ants and other insects. Reproduction: Females usually give birth to two pups in late April or May. Florida status: Common. Florida range: Evening bats are common throughout Florida, except the Florida Keys. Copyright Florida Bat Center 2005