Bats save farmers billions by eating pests
Insectivorous bats provide a natural pest-control service valued at over 22 billion dollars annually in the United States, significantly reducing the agricultural industry's reliance on chemical pesticides and preventing crop disease.
A single brown bat can consume up to 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in one hour, providing a massive, natural subsidy to global food production. In the United States alone, the pest-suppression services of bats are valued at a median of 22.9 billion dollars per year. By preying on devastating insects like the corn earworm and the cucumber beetle, these mammals significantly reduce the volume of chemical pesticides required for crop maintenance.
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