The two species of nectar-feeding bats in Arizona have a particularly striking relationship with their environment. The Mexican long-tongued bat and the lesser long-nosed bat feed on the nectar of big desert cactus like the saguaros, agaves and organ pipes. In fact, these bats are the primary pollinators of the saguaro. The giant cactus blooms once a year, in the middle of the night when the birds and bees are all in bed, and it's up to the bats to take care of business. "These bats and the desert have co-evolved" says Brian, "and the bats play a critical role in the maintenance of the ‘macro' desert plants."

Another star of the lively Arizona bat scene include the Ghost-faced bat (Mormoops megalophylla), whose adorably homely, wrinkly-faced, Ewok-like appearance makes him easy to identify—these insect eaters are extremely swift and efficient hunters and are most likely to be found in riparian zones in Southern Arizona. Mexican free-tailed bats are the most common bats statewide. There's even a spot in Phoenix set aside to watch thousands of them emerge from an urban flood control tunnel every evening during the summer. (See HYPERLINK "http://www.azgfd.gov" www.azgfd.gov for details.)

An important function of the Arboretum's full-moon programs is to get residents to think about bats and of our native creatures and how they are part of our lives. Once people learn about bats' pest control service, many are more careful about the harmful chemicals they put in their gardens, and some even learn to build bat boxes to draw the creatures onto their property. In recent years, the Western draught has driven bats to untimely deaths trying to drink from stock tanks as their natural water supplies diminish, and ranchers are learning to build simple escape ramps in the tanks to save bats and other wildlife. Best of all, residents are learning to appreciate the diversity and amazing abilities of these little-understood animals.

There is one more full-moon program left in the summer series, scheduled for August 28. For more information, visit www.thearb.org or call 928-774-1442.

Article by Sarah Horton