Introduction
Bats provide us with important ecosystem services. Bats serve as
pollinators, seed dispersers and insect population controllers (Kunzet al ., 2011; Vincenot et al ., 2017). Locusts,
planthoppers, leafhoppers, and rice stem borers are common insect pests
in rice fields (Khoo et al ., 1991; Whitaker, 1993). Chemical,
physical, and biological controls are the main option for pest controls
in agricultural areas especially in rice fields. The usage of chemicals
such as herbicide, rodenticide and insecticide has been proven to have a
long-term effect towards the ecosystem (Chiaia-Hernandez et al .,
2017).
Biological controls can also be a good option since it is more efficient
as all pests have their own natural enemies (Ooi, 2015). However, this
approach has long been neglected, probably due to either ignorance or to
farmers preferring immediate results. Barn owls (Tyto alba ) have
been infrequently used to control rat populations in rice fields
(Hafidzi, 2003; Hafidzi & Naim, 2003). Using insects that are natural
predators of insect pests is another example of biological control.
Ladybugs, ants, spiders, dragonflies and mirids (Way & Heong, 1994;
Ooi, 2015) as well as some vertebrates like frogs, birds, and bats
(Leelapaibul et al., 2005) can control the insect pest population
naturally. Since rice fields have become the foraging areas for bats,
they can potentially be a biological control for insect pests (Lee &
McCracken, 2005).
Insect-eating bats play a role as a natural predator in safeguarding the
surrounding protected areas as a biological control (Lee & McCracken,
2005). About 70% of bats are insectivorous (Simmons, 2005). Caves serve
as an essential roosting site for many bat species all around the world.
In caves, bats often roost in a large colony, which can result in the
large-scale depletion of insects, especially insect pests in the
surrounding agricultural area.
The contribution of bats towards controlling agricultural pests has been
mostly documented in the United States (McCracken et al. , 2010;
Boyles et al. , 2011), some parts of Canada (Clare et al. ,
2009), Europe (Puig-Montserrat et al. , 2015) and Madagascar (Kempet al. , 2019). In Southeast Asia, Thailand (Leelapaibul et
al. , 2003; Leelapaibul et al. , 2005; Wanger et al. , 2014)
has the highest reported studies of bats in rice field areas. However,
the situation remains unclear in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian
countries. Studies on bats in Malaysian rice field areas are still
lacking and more information is needed to determine their contribution
to the ecosystem.
The objective of this study is to document the insect abundance and
insect pest availability at different growing phases of paddies during
various growing seasons in rice fields nearby Gunung Keriang. Up to
date, there is still a lack of data regarding insect abundance
especially insect pests at different growing phase of paddy in rice
field area. This study aimed to test the importance of bats to
potentially help to control insect pest population naturally in the rice
field areas.