A bat a day keeps the pest away: Bats provide valuable protection from pests in organic apple orchards

Abstract

Organic farming is an essential component of sustainable agriculture that can help maintain biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, providing benefits for both human well-being and environmental conservation. Recent studies have highlighted the vital role of insectivorous bats in farmland ecosystems by controlling pest insect populations. Our research focuses on the direct economic value of bat insectivory in woody crops, specifically in apple orchards affected by the codling moth Cydia pomonella. We conducted an exclusion experiment followed by an economic evaluation to estimate the impact of bat insectivory on crop damage and economic savings. Our results demonstrate that the presence of bats in apple orchards can significantly reduce the damage caused by C. pomonella, resulting in a 32.1% reduction in affected apple trees and a 50% reduction in the total weight of damaged apples per tree. This translates into estimated economic savings of 551 €/ha/y by reducing the need for insecticide applications, which can have negative impacts on the environment and human health. Moreover, the presence of bats can lead to higher crop yields and protect the quality of the product, resulting in higher profits for farmers. Our findings highlight the critical role of bats in maintaining ecosystem services and provide valuable information for the sustainable management of farmland ecosystems.