We all know the diseases mosquitos can spread. But few of us know much about the tiny insectivores working tirelessly on our behalf to control those mozzies.
That’s where Professor Maria Nicolae comes in, championing the cause of microbats.
‘They play very important roles in controlling the insect population. But they’re under extreme pressure for survival everywhere, pressure that we can help relieve,’ she says.
She’ll be explaining just how at the free Gecko Talks on Wednesday, August 28.
Prof. Nicolae is BATS Qld’s Education Coordinator. As such, she’ll talk about their physiology—for instance, they can eat about a third of their body weight in insects each night. She’ll discuss their challenges in our urban environment and how we can live supportively with them, including by providing special boxes.
However, get her onto their intelligence and how they’re misunderstood and you’ll really feel and understand why she has become such a passionate advocate of these creatures that she first fell in love with on Facebook. What a modern way to start a relationship!
‘Once you get to know them, you’ll see them with completely different eyes,’ according to Prof. Nicolae whose day job is a law academic.
The bottom line is microbats can catch 500 insects an hour so why wouldn’t you want to know more about this keystone species!
