Here’s a Tent-making Bat (Uroderma bilobatum) that was photographed by Twan while in Costa Rica. These bats make nifty day-time roost sites in understory palms of the rainforest. They chew partway through the leaflets on a single frond, causing them to droop down and create a ‘tent’ of sorts. They like to make a large number of tents within their territory and change their roost site frequently so they don’t fall prey to sharp-eyed predators who may recognize the shape of their unique shelter. Tents that have not been used for a while often become a favored site for paper wasps to build their nests, so check these hideouts from a safe distance when you’re looking for these bats – you might be in for an unpleasant surprise!
