Bat Community Response to Insect Abundance in Relation to Rice Phenology in Peninsular Malaysia

Bats provide essential ecosystem services, particularly in regulating insect populations within agricultural landscapes. However, research on bat-insect interactions in Malaysian rice fields remains limited. This study examined bat diversity and insect abundance in the rice field area of Gunung Keriang, Kedah, using two harp traps, two mist nets and a light trap at three selected sites. A total of 2499 bats representing 27 species were captured, alongside 161,539 insects from 11 orders. Rhinolophus pusillus was the dominant bat species across all seasons. During the dry season, Chilo polychrysus (stem borer) was the dominant insect pest, whereas Nilaparvata lugens (brown planthopper) prevailed during the wet season. Insects from the order Coleoptera, dominant in the dry season, are likely consumed by larger bat species with stronger bite forces. Bat foraging activity peaked concurrently with insect emergence, corresponding to periods of high food availability. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between bat activity, temperature, and rainfall, but not insect abundance. These findings underscore the ecological importance of bats as natural pest regulators in rice field ecosystems and highlight their potential role in promoting sustainable, ecosystem-based agricultural management.