Research Paper

Evidence of predation on butterflies in the cave-roosting Formosan tailless leaf-nosed bat

Chong-Fu Liao, Yin-Ping Fang

Published on: 24 October 2026

Page: 764 - 774

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2026.71.764

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    Abstract

    The Formosan tailless leaf-nosed bat (Coelops frithii formosanus) is an endemic subspecies in Taiwan and is classified as a nationally vulnerable small insectivorous bat. In 2010, many discarded lepidopteran wings, particularly butterfly wings, were discovered in a roosting cave in Beinan, Taitung. Therefore, this study conducted a long-term survey (2010–2012 and 2015–2018) to investigate the species composition, abundance, and temporal distribution of prey transported back to the roost by this bat. A total of 1,283 discarded wings were collected, representing at least 68 species from 12 lepidopteran families. Butterflies (41 species) clearly exceeded moths (27 species) in both abundance and species richness; in the standardized 2015–2018 dataset, the butterfly-to-moth ratio was approximately 4.9:1. The most frequently recorded prey species was Badamia exclamationis (Hesperiidae), accounting for 47.5% of all discarded wings. The occurrence of discarded wings showed a distinct temporal pattern, mainly from November to May of the following year, with high abundance typically observed between February and March. In addition, interannual variation in species composition was observed. The dominance of diurnal butterflies, which are generally inactive at night, suggests that C. f. formosanus may employ a gleaning strategy for certain lepidopteran taxa. This study provides the first documentation of lepidopteran utilization by the Formosan tailless leaf-nosed bat based on discarded-wing remains and offers foundational data for future studies on its foraging ecology and life history.

    Keyword: Butterfly, Coelops frithii formosanus, discarded wing, insectivorous bat, moth

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