Bats around the world eat many different things
The diversity of bat diets is one reason bats are so cool!

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Mealworms

Photo (C) Amanda Adams

Insects

Most of the bats in North America eat insects! Bats are the #1 predator of nocturnal insects and are very important for pest control.
In the lab, we feed them mealworms.
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Seba's Short-tailed Bat

Photo (C) Houston Zoo

Fruit

One of the most common diets for a bat is to eat fruit. These bats are very important for forest regeneration since they distribute seeds from the fruit they eat.
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Lesser Long-nosed Bat

Photo (C) Tom Vezo

Nectar

Some bats are like the hummingbirds of the night. They drink nectar from flowers. They are very important for pollination.
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Israeli Large-clawed Scorpion

Photo (C) Amanda Adams

Scorpions

A couple species that live in the desert are specialized to eat scorpions! They don't even mind if they get stung on the nose.
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Fringe-lipped Bat

Photo (C) Christian Ziegler

Frogs

Yum! One species in South and Central American is specially adapted to eat frogs! The fringe-lipped bat has little bumps on its lips and muzzle that help the bat tell if a frog is poisonous or not before taking a bite.
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Greater Bulldog Bat

Photo (C) Christian Ziegler

Fish

One of the most impressive diets are bats that eat fish! Their large feet and other adaptations allow them to find and catch fish right out of the water.