Bats are considered “sequential specialists,” feeding heavily on one or two species of plant at any given time but shifting favorites every few weeks (Marshall, 1983; Pakarnseree, 1986). There are broad overlaps between the diets of different species (Utzurrum, 1995). Pteropids consume fruit only when it is ripe (Fujita, 1988).
Pteropids in Australia feed primarily on Eucalyptus blossoms (Nelson, 1965b) and less on native figs Ficus macrophylla and F. hilli (Spencer et al., 1991). P. poliocephalus and P. alecto are generalists (Richards, 1995). The amount of blossom produced by Eucalyptus spp. varies between years, with heavy flowerings spaced 1-3, 2, or 5 years apart, depending on the species. Individual stands of Eucalyptus do not always flower synchronously. In general, blossoming in southeastern Queensland is heaviest from September to March, which coincides with summer camp formation. Nelson (1965b) suggests a correlation between the intensity of local blossoming and the size and persistence of local summer camps.
Author: S. Cobey.