Decline of Bats in U.S. Could Cause Billions in Agricultural Losses

A new study concludes that the continuing loss of large numbers of bats in the United States  to so-called “white nose syndrome” could cost U.S. agriculture billions of dollars in losses from increased insect infestations. Reporting in the journal Science, Gary McCracken of the University of Tennessee calculated that the ecosystem services provided by bats — specifically, the billions of insects they consume annually — are worth at least $3.7 billion a year, and possibly as much as $53 billion. If bats in the eastern United States continue their steep decline, farmers will be forced to use far more pesticides, which in turn will pose a threat to humans, wildlife, and the environment. “Without bats, crop yields are affected,” said McCracken. “Pesticide applications go up… Bats have enormous potential to influence the economics of agriculture and forestry.” The study noted, for example, that a study of 150 brown bats in Indiana showed that they ate roughly 1.3 million insects annually. White nose syndrome, which causes hibernating bats to develop a whitish fungus on their faces and wings, has killed at least 1 million bats in the eastern U.S. in the last five years.