Microbats 

Microbats

These diminutive creatures typically form colonies of around half a dozen individuals. Renowned for their prowess in insect control, microbats consume a remarkable 50% of their body weight in insects each night. Their droppings pose no known disease risk, drying quickly without generating significant odour. Microbats exhibit cleanliness and sociability, refraining from gnawing on wood, wires, or insulation.

Bats share common senses such as smell, hearing, sight, and touch with humans, but they boast the unique abilities of flight and a sophisticated navigation and prey detection system. In contrast to flying foxes, microbats utilise echolocation, emitting high-frequency sound pulses through the nose or mouth. A specialised flap of skin in front of the ear directs the returning echoes, forming a detailed "sound picture." While in flight, microbats emit around ten pulses per second, increasing to over 100 per second when detecting prey. Australia is home to numerous microbat species, with weights ranging from 3 to 30 grams, and unfortunately, many are classified as threatened species. These bats primarily roost in tree hollows or beneath bark, although some species have adapted to living in building cavities.

Microbats belong to the mammalian category, are covered in fur and are characterised as warm-blooded placental animals. They nurture their young with milk produced by the mothers.