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Florida's Bats: Tricolored Bat

Emily Evans, Terry Doonan, and Holly Ober

The tricolored bat, formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle, is the smallest bat found in the state of Florida (Figure 1). It weighs just 0.3 ounces or 8 grams (the weight of a nickel and a penny) and has an approximately 9-inch (210–260 mm) wingspan. Due to their small size and erratic flight pattern, tricolored bats are often mistaken for moths when seen in flight from a long distance away.

Figure 1. Tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). Note the multi-colored strands of fur.
Figure 1.  Tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). Note the multi-colored strands of fur.
Credit: Merlin Tuttle, Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation

Tricolored bats are found throughout the eastern United States and Central America and are known to occur in most areas of Florida, with the exception of the Keys (Figure 2). Since they are rarely encountered within the state, tricolored bats are considered uncommon in Florida.

Figure 2. Tricolored bats are found throughout the state of Florida, except the Keys.
Figure 2.  Tricolored bats are found throughout the state of Florida, except the Keys.

This species is considered one of the more colorful species of bats in the state. They have pinkish forearms (the bones that support the wings), black wing membranes, and fur ranging from silver-yellow to dark orange. The name refers to the three colors (black, yellow, and brown) found on individual hairs on the bat's body (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Tricolored bat hibernating in a Florida cave. Note the pinkish forearms and yellow-brown fur.
Figure 3.  Tricolored bat hibernating in a Florida cave. Note the pinkish forearms and yellow-brown fur.
Credit: Jeff Gore, FWC

Tricolored bats typically roost (sleep during the day) alone, especially in the winter months, when they are known to hibernate almost exclusively in caves. The tricolored bat is one of only three species of bats in Florida that hibernate in caves during the winter. Across North America, many bats that hibernate in caves are susceptible to a deadly disease called white nose syndrome (WNS). This disease has killed many millions of cave-dwelling bats across eastern North America since it first appeared in 2006. White nose syndrome is caused by a fungus that has not been found in Florida caves to date. Biologists are carefully monitoring Florida's caves so they will know if WNS appears.

In the summer months, tricolored bats often roost in the foliage of trees, in tree cavities, in Spanish moss, and in old buildings. Females cluster in small groups to birth and rear young (May–June). Within this time period, which is often referred to as the maternity season, twin pups are born and then weaned approximately four weeks after birth.

Tricolored bats, like most of Florida's bats, are insectivorous and forage at night. They feed on small moths, beetles, flies, leafhoppers, and flying ants.

Distinguishing the Tricolored Bat from Similar Florida Bat Species

Tricolored bats can be distinguished from other species in part by their size: adults are a mere 1.5–2 inches (36–52 mm) from head to rump. Their unusual coloring is also distinctive, with black wing membranes contrasting sharply with pink forearm bones (other species have wing membranes that more closely match the forearm bones in color).

Read below to determine how to differentiate tricolored bats from other similar species found in Florida.

Tricolored Bat

  • Fur ranges dramatically in color among individuals from pale silver-yellow to dark orange.
  • Wing membranes are blackish and contrast sharply with wing bones, which are pink.
  • The body is very small, less than 2 inches (36–52 mm) from head to rump.
  • Small forearm is approximately 1 1/3 inches (31–36 mm).
  • Bats roost singly or in small groups of 2–3 in caves, tree cavities and foliage, Spanish moss, and buildings.
  • They may share roosts with Brazilian free-tailed bats, evening bats, and southeastern myotis bats.
  • Bats forage along tree lines and over ponds and streams throughout the state.

Southeastern Myotis

  • Fur ranges from gray to brown to reddish on the back and buff to tan on the stomach.
  • Wing membranes are dark brown, as are wing bones, and the muzzle is mostly furred.
  • The base of each wing is attached to the inner toe of each foot.
  • Long hairs between the toes extend past the claws.
  • The body is small, approximately 2 inches (48–53 mm) from nose to rump.
  • Bats roost in colonies larger in size than tricolored bat colonies (typically ranging from 100 to 10,000) in caves and tree cavities, beneath concrete bridges and culverts, and in houses and bat houses.

Evening Bat

  • Fur is brown to dark brown on the back and buff to tan on the stomach.
  • The bat resembles the big brown bat but is much smaller.
  • Wing membranes are dark brown, as are wing bones; ears and muzzle are unfurred.
  • The body is small, approximately 2.3 inches (49–67 mm) from nose to rump.
  • Bats roost in fairly small groups numbering up to 100 individuals in tree cavities, beneath tree bark, in concrete bridges, beneath caps on top of utility poles, in folded patio umbrellas, in houses, and in bat houses.
  • They may share roosts with Brazilian free-tailed bats and southeastern myotis.
  • Bats forage in many habitat types throughout the state.

Additional Information

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Living with bats.

Marks, C. S., and G. E. Marks. 2006. Bats of Florida. University Press of Florida. Gainesville, Fl. 176 pp.

Ober, H. K., M. B. Main, and G. M. Allen. 2004. Bats of Florida. WEC186. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/uw203

Ober, H. K. and F. J. Mazzotti. 2008. Conservation of Bats in Florida. WEC247. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/uw291

Ober, H. K. 2008. Effective Bat Houses for Florida. WEC246. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw290

Ober, H. K. 2008. Insect Pest Management Services Provided by Bats. WEC245. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/uw289

Wisely, S. M., and H. K. Ober. 2015. Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Rabies. WEC239. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw282

Publication #WEC389

Release Date:August 30, 2021

Related Experts

Ober, Holly K.

University of Florida

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General Public

About this Publication

This document is WEC389, one of a series of the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 2017. Revised August 2021. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Emily Evans, Northwest Regional Species Conservation Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Terry Doonan, mammal conservation coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and Holly Ober, former associate and wildlife Extension specialist, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Shelly Johnson