New architecture of leaf-tents in American oil palms (Elaeis oleifera) used by Pacific tent-making bat (Uroderma convexum) in Panama

In this study, we report for the first time the use of the American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera) as roost by the Neotropical Pacific tent-making bat (Uroderma convexum). Palms with tent roosts consisting of modified leaves were found within the semi-deciduous lowland rainforest in Panama. We present detailed information on a new style of leaf modifications and compare these to tent architectures in other palm species used by U. convexum.

New tent architecture roost by Dermanura phaeotis (Miller, 1902) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in southeastern Mexico

Some phyllostomid bats modify leaves of certain plant species in order to build tents as daytime roosts. Most tent-roosting members of the Artibeus and Dermanura genus have a widespread geographic distribution; nevertheless, there are few reports regarding roost architecture. This is the first report in Mexico of boat/apical tents built by the pygmy fruit-eating bat Dermanura phaeotis.

Roosting site selection by Artibeus watsoni (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) on Anthurium ravenii (Araceae) in Costa Rica

Artibeus watsoni (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) was found in Costa Rica to alter the shape of 11 species of broad-leafed plants in the families Araceae, Cyclanthaceae, Maran-taceae, Musaceae, and Palmae to form diurnal roost sites. The plant most commonly used for tent construction was Anthurium ravenii (Araceae). Bats create a tent on A. ravenii by severing the basal 2 to 5 lateral nerves at a distance of 5 to 10 mm from the midrib; the entire margin of the leaf then collapses downward to form a pyramid-shaped tent. The number of altered leaves per plant ranges from 1 to 4 with a mean of 2.1. A. watsoni appears to be selecting leaves of medium size and low within the plant. The size, shape, and location of leaves selected is consistent with the hypothesis that tent construction provides bats with roost sites that will be available to them for a long period of time and provides protection from both predators and the elements, thus conveying a selective advantage to the bats.

Tents and harems: apparent defence of foliage roosts by tent-making bats

Palmate umbrella tents used by tent-making bats in Trinidad, West Indies, were observed in three species of Neotropical palms, Sabal mauritiiformis, Coccothrinax barbadensis and Mauritia flexuosa. Tents were most common in palm leaves that have supporting petioles angled at 50–70° above the horizontal. The shape and volume of tents is influenced mostly by leaf morphology (leaf width and leaflet length) and age of the tent. Tent-crowns varied from being heart-shaped in S. mauritiiformis, oval or round in C. barbadensis and spade-shaped in M. flexuosa. Leaves in which tents were constructed were most often beneath overhanging vegetation, and were generally free of vegetation below, allowing bats to enter and depart from tents without being impeded by the clutter of adjacent vegetation.

Singles and small apparent harem groups of two bat species, Artibeus jamaicensis and Uroderma bilobatum, were captured and observed in tents made from the leaves of S. mauritiiformis and C. barbadensis. No bats were observed in tents constructed in leaves of M. flexuosa. The apparent harem social organization in these and other tent-making bat species suggests that leaves modified into tents may provide critical and defendable resources that promote the evolution of polygyny. This hypothesis is based on the observed patchy distribution of suitable palm trees, the inappropriateness of many palm leaves as potential tents and the resultant architecture provided by palmate umbrella tents. We suggest that tent-making is an adult male behaviour.

Host-parasite relationship between the American Streblidae and the bats, with a new key to the American genera and a record of the Streblidae from Trinidad, British West Indies (Diptera)

In 1945 I received a large collection of Streblidae from the late Prof. A. M. Adamson, of the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture. This collection was made by a post-graduate student, Mr T. S. Jones, and Dr E. C. Humphries, in Trinidad. Later on Mr Jones sent me another three collections, which together with the first comprised three hundred and sixty specimens, the largest number of Streblidae which has ever been collected in America. In addition, I received seven specimens from Mr P. C. J. Brunet, of Keble College, Oxford, which were also collected in Trinidad. I take this opportunity to express my thanks to all these gentlemen, and especially to Mr Jones, who also supplied me with the list of the bats of Trinidad, and some useful information regarding their roosting habits. My thanks are also due to Dr T. C. S. Morrison-Scott and Mr R. W. Hayman of the British Museum (Natural History) for their help in checking the names of several species of bats. The present record is based on the abovementioned five collections and also includes all those records which had been known from Trinidad before.

Predation by squirrel monkeys and double-toothed kites on tent-making bats

Central American squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedi) appear to recognize the modified leaves that phyllostomid bats utilize for diurnal roost sites. The monkeys visually and manually search these bat tents for both bats and insects. Adult males are the most successful at capturing bats. Nonvolant juvenile bats are more vulnerable to monkey predation than are adults. Bats that escape monkey predation frequently are captured by doubletoothed kites (Harpagus bidentatus) that tend foraging troops of monkeys. Predation by squirrel monkeys, coupled with that of double-toothed kites, may be a significant source of mortality for tent-making bats.