Sugar preferences ofthe Queensland Blossom Bat, Syconycteris australis: a pilot study.

Abstract

Preferences of captive blossom bats for sugar types and concentrations were investigated. Blossom bats did not display a clear preference when presented pure sucrose or glucose solutions or an equal volume mixture of sucrose, glucose and fructose. However, a trend for avoidance of pure fructose solutions was evident. In contrast, blossom bats were very sensitive to variations in sugar concentration, preferring the most concentrated sugar solution (40 %) to the almost complete exclusion of others. These results suggest flowers may be chosen on the basis of sugar concentration and are discussed in reference to the highly specialised nectar/pollen diet of blossom bats.