Dietary habits of the wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat <i>Mops plicatus</i> in Cambodia

Dietary habits of the wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat Mops plicatus in Cambodia The role of bats in regulating pest insect populations in agricultural ecosystems has recently emerged as a topic of global interest to farmers and conservationists. However, the diet of bats in Cambodia remains largely unexplored. We analysed faecal pellets of Mops plicatus to understand the role of this bat species in suppressing agricultural pests. Faecal pellets were collected, during the late wet and early dry seasons, from La Ang Reach Trop and Phnom Preah Kuhear Luong in Battambang and Kampot Provinces, respectively. Seven insect orders and Acari were identified in the diet of M. plicatus individuals. This bat species mainly consumed Hemiptera (Delphacidae) with 76.78 ± 30.35 % and Coleoptera with 13.02 ± 22.09 % of its diet across all regions and seasons. The less frequent orders were Hemiptera (Cicadellidae), Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata, Siphonaptera, and Acari. We found a significant difference in the diet of M. plicatus between seasons, and between both areas. The results suggest that M. plicatus plays a significant role in the predation of Delphacidae, contributing to the pest regulation in rice paddy fields and increasing rice production. Prioritising the conservation and management of M. plicatus and its habitats is critical for maintaining its ecosystem services and economic value. Key words: Pest insects, Paddy field, Bat conservation, Delphacidae, Cave bat, Limestone