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<H1><FONT size=3>From the Coloradoan.com</FONT></H1>
<H1>Super bats: Insects are no match for these plant pollinators</H1>
<H2></H2><SPAN class=gslAutUserPhoto id=gslshowAuthImg></SPAN>
<P class=ratingbyline>BY CHARLEEN BARR • For the Coloradoan • July 25, 2009
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<LI class=comments> Bat have a reputation of being a little on the creepy
side. However, these winged mammals serve a critical role in the environment
and the garden. Bats help control insect populations and are important
pollinators.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></LI></UL></DIV>
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<DIV class=articleflex>A single little brown furry bat will eat 600 mosquitoes
in one hour. If you multiply 600 insects per hour during an eight-hour night,
bats can consume 4,800 insects in a single evening. Bats eat many garden and
agricultural pests, including cutworm moths, chafer beetles, potato beetles and
spotted cucumber beetles. Some moths can detect a bat's echolocation and will
avoid the area where bats are present.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></DIV></DIV>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Plants that attract insects for bats are strongly
scented and bloom at night. A few examples include evening primrose,
night-scented stock, nicotiana, moonflowers, night phlox, honeysuckle,
four-o-clocks, salvia, lemon balm, mint, marjoram, lavender, thyme and
sage.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Several species of bats are important pollinators.
There are more than 20 genera of plants that rely on bats to pollinate them.
These plants range from blooming cacti to wild banana trees. Bats and plants
have a symbiotic relationship that increases the success of the feeding bat and
pollination.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Nectar-feeding bats have long muzzles and long,
protruding tongues that have a brush tip that gathers pollen quickly and
efficiently. The flowers pollinated by bats angle downward and have just the
right size and shape for the bat to insert its head and shoulders. As the bat
moves from each night-blooming flower, it becomes the pollinator.<SPAN
class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>In addition to patrolling for pests and pollinating,
bats provide a hearty organic fertilizer, known as guano, which is high in
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These minerals are essential nutrients for
flowers, herbs, vegetables, ornamental grasses and other plants.<SPAN
class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Welcoming bats to the garden is as simple as providing
a pleasing environment that includes water, leaving a light on, not using
pesticides and providing some type of shelter. To encourage bats to your garden,
plant flowers near groups of trees or consider growing ivy or climbing vines on
a fence or wall. You can also provide a bat house. Bats love dark, enclosed
spaces. They instinctively seek sheltered spots, such as inside old hollow
trees, under eaves, in caves or gutter spouts, and in empty attics.<SPAN
class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Many homeowners are uncomfortable with bats living in
their homes. Bats are equally uncomfortable sharing a house with people and only
resort to living in an attic when natural roosts like dead trees are not
available. Building a bat house is an option. The Organization for Bat
Conservation (<A href="http://www.batconservation.org/"
target=_blank>www.batconservation.org</A>) offers directions on how to build and
where to place a bat house.<SPAN class=aa></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=pp></SPAN>Bats are furry and a bit unusual-looking, but for
gardeners who suffer from mosquitoes, bats provide a natural and continuing
solution.</P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Gill Sans MT" size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Laurie Davies Adams<BR>Executive
Director<BR><B>Pollinator Partnership </B><BR>423 Washington Street, 5th
floor<BR>San Francisco, CA
94111<BR>415-362-1137<BR>LDA@pollinator.org</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#0000ff size=4 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="14"><B><A
href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></B></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"></B><BR><A
href="http://www.nappc.org/">www.nappc.org</A><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="12"><B><I>National Pollinator Week is June 22-28, 2009. <BR>Beecome
involved at <A
href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></I></FONT></B></DIV></FONT><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="7756994a5e6af5fdc62913f1ce5a7929"><br/><font style="color:black;font:normal 10pt arial,san-serif;"> <hr style="margin-top:10px"/><B>A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. <A HREF=http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823322x1201398723/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=115&bcd=JulystepsfooterNO115>See yours in just 2 easy steps!</A></B></font></DIV></BODY></HTML>