Family: Vespertilionidae, Vespertilionid Bats view all from this family

Description Reddish brown to dark brown above; tawny below. No fur on wings or interfemoral membrane. Calcar not keeled. Tragus short and curved. 1 upper incisor; no reduced premolar behind canine. L 3 1/8–3 5/8" (78–93 mm); T 1 3/8"–1 1/2" (35–37 mm); HF 1/4– 3/8" (7–10 mm); FA 1 1/4–1 1/2" (33–39 mm); Wt 1/8–1/4 oz (5–9 g).

Warning Bats are susceptible to rabies, a serious viral disease that results in death if untreated. Rabid bats rarely attack humans or other animals, but bats found lying on the ground may be rabid. Never touch or pick up any bat. Stay away from any animal that seems to be acting strangely and report it to animal-control officers. If you are bitten by a possibly rabid animal, you must immediately consult a doctor for a series of injections; there is no cure once symptoms emerge.

Similar Species Big Brown Bat is much larger. Myotises usually have long narrow, straight tragus, and 2 tiny premolars behind canine.

Breeding Mates in fall; fertilization delayed until spring. 2 young born June– early July. Young can fly in about 4 weeks.

Habitat Woodland or mixed woodland and open areas. In summer, roosts in buildings and hollow trees; winter residences not known.

Range Southeastern U.S., from se Nebraska, s Iowa, and s Michigan east to s Pennsylvania (but not Allegheny Mountains) and Atlantic states, and south to e Texas and Gulf Coast.

Discussion The Evening Bat almost never enters caves, roosting mainly in buildings and tree hollows. Its food preferences are similar to those of the Big Brown Bat, primarily beetles and true bugs, although it eats more moths. It spends much time foraging over cornfields for cucumber beetles, and also eats many green stinkbugs, June bugs, and leafhoppers. Maternity colonies often form in buildings, but sometimes in hollow trees, and may include hundreds of individuals; they disperse by fall, but their winter whereabouts are not known. This species is becoming very scarce in the northern parts of its range and should be protected there.