Author
CLEVELAND, CUTLER - BOSTON UNIVERSITY | |
BETKE, MARGRIT - BOSTON UNIVERSITY | |
FEDERICO, PAULA - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | |
FRANK, JEFF - INDIGO SYSTEMS, CA | |
HALLAM, THOMAS - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | |
HORN, JASON - BOSTON UNIVERSITY | |
Lopez, Juan De Dios | |
MCCRACKEN, GARY - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | |
MEDELLIN, RODRIGO - NATIONAL UNIV., MEXICO | |
MORENO-VALDEZ, ARNULFO - TECHNICAL INST., MEXICO | |
SANSONE, CHRIS - COOP. EXT. SERVICE | |
Westbrook, John | |
KUNZ, THOMAS - BOSTON UNIVERSITY |
Submitted to: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2006 Publication Date: 6/1/2006 Citation: Cleveland, C.J., Betke, M., Federico, P., Frank, J.D., Hallam, T.G., Horn, J., Lopez, J., McCracken, G.F., Medellin, R.A., Moreno-Valdez, A., Sansone, C.G., Westbrook, J.K., Kunz, T.H. 2006. Economic value of the pest control service provided by Brazilian free-tailed bats in south-central Texas. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 4:238-243. Interpretive Summary: Brazilian free-tailed bats form enormous summer breeding colonies, mostly in caves and bridges in south-central Texas and northern Mexico, and prey on important agricultural pests including the cotton bollworm. We estimated the value of free-tailed bats in suppressing bollworms in cotton production based on bat dietary consumption, cotton production, and insect pest management. Avoided crop losses and pest management costs were estimated to be $741,000 per year, with a range of $121,000 to $1,725,000, relative to a $6 million annual cotton harvest within an eight-county region in south-central Texas. Results of this study reveal that free-tailed bats significantly contribute to areawide pest management in the Texas Winter Garden, and may additionally reduce pest migrations and consequent infestations in downwind cropping regions. Technical Abstract: Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) form enormous summer breeding colonies, mostly in caves and bridges in south-central Texas and northern Mexico. Prey of these bats includes several species of adult insects whose larvae are known to be important agricultural pests, including the corn earworm or cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea). We estimated the value of these bats in controlling this pest in cotton production for an eight-county region in south-central Texas. The avoided crop losses and costs of pest management were estimated to be $741,000 per year, with a range of $121,000 to $1,725,000, relative to a $6 million annual cotton harvest. |