Dermanura phaeotis visiting inflorescences of a small palm tree

In Costa Rica, fruit-eating Dermanura phaeotis provide pollinating services for the palm Calyptrogyne ghiebreghtiana. Bats eat the male and female corollas and by doing so they transfer the pollen from male flowers to female flowers. True nectar-feeding bats, such as Glossophaga commissarisi are inappropriate pollinators for this palm, since they do not land on inflorescences but rather hover in front of them; thereby not touching the pollen or stigma. 

Dermanura phaeotis at C. ghiesbreghtiana
Slow motion video showing how D. phaeotis lands on an inflorescence of G. ghiesbreghtiana
BatD2.mov
QuickTime Video Format 3.0 MB
Dermanura phaeotis at C. ghiesbreghtiana
Slow motion showing how a hovering nectar-feeding bat interferes with a D. phaeotis resting on an inflorescence
BatD4.mov
QuickTime Video Format 2.3 MB

Nectar-feeding bats visiting flowers of Mucuna holtoni

In the neotropics, flowers of the vine Mucuna holtoni are pollinated by nectar-feeding bats such as Glossophaga commissarisi. For this, bats land on the flower, stick their snout into a central part of the flowers and then take up the sugar reward. In the meantime, the flower is depositing pollen on the dorsal part of the tail membrane, a region that is hard to reach for the bat; an ideal place to deposit pollen! The two pictures shows an inflorescence from below and the side, one of the flowers is ready to get pollinated (central one).

Glossophaga bat at flower of Mucuna holtoni
Slow motion video showing how a bat lands on a flower, the pollen is deposited via a quasi-explosive mechanisms by throwing the pollen on the tail membrane of the bat. Some of the pollen drops to the flower, but most of it sticks to the fur and tail membrane of the bat.
BatM2.mov
QuickTime Video Format 10.5 MB
Glossophaga bat at flower of Mucuna holtoni
Slow motion video showing how a nectar-feeding bat inspects an empty flower but then decides to switch to a fresh flower. In this case, pollen is not deposited on the bat, and it is unsure if the bat received the nectar reward
BatM5.mov
QuickTime Video Format 7.0 MB

Short-tailed fruit bat visiting infructescences of Piper

Plants of the Neotropical genus Piper are key species for the regeneration of forests. Short-tailed fruit bats (genus Carollia) are the main dispersers of seeds and thus ecosystem services provided by these bats are crucial for the natural succession of forests or logged areas. 

Carollia sowelli harvesting an infructescence of Piper
Slow motion video showing the approach flight of a C. sowelli and how bats pick up the infructescence in flight-
BatP1.mov
QuickTime Video Format 6.5 MB
Carollia sowelli getting confused at Piper
Slow motion video showing an approach flight of C. sowelli towards an unripe infructescence. After discovering the odd taste, the bat switch to the ripe infructescence.
BatP7.mov
QuickTime Video Format 10.4 MB

Nectar-feeding bat visiting flowers of a bromeliad

Nectar-feeding bats pollinate hundreds and thousands of plants in tropical and subtropical areas. In Costa Rica, Glossophaga commissarisi visits flowers of the bromeliad plant Werauhia by hovering in front of them.  

Glossophaga hovering in front of a bromeliad flower
Slow motion of a flower visit by Glossophaga commissarisi at a Werauhia flower
BatW1.mov
QuickTime Video Format 7.2 MB
Glossophaga hovering in front of a bromeliad flower
Slow motion of a Glossophaga bat approaching the bromeliad and finally visiting the flower.
BatW2.mov
QuickTime Video Format 12.1 MB

Myotis albescens hunting for insects

Insect-feeding bats are consuming vast quantities of insects each night. The videos show Myotis albescens hunting for a mealworm that it was trained to pick from a line. 

Myotis bat catching presented mealworm
Approach phase of Myotis albescens towards a mealworm hanging on a line from the ceiling.
BatI2.mov
QuickTime Video Format 36.6 MB
bat_flug.wmv
Windows Media Video Format 31.0 MB