What term describes the feeding behavior of bats?

The term that accurately describes the feeding behavior of many bat species is insectivorous. This means that these bats primarily feed on insects, which constitutes a significant part of their diet. Insectivorous bats have adapted to efficiently hunt and consume flying insects during their nocturnal foraging flights, using echolocation to detect prey in the dark.

While there are bats that exhibit other feeding behaviors—some are herbivorous, consuming nectar and fruit, while others may be omnivorous, eating a mix of both plant material and animal prey—numerous species, particularly within the microbat group, predominantly feed on insects. This specialization allows insectivorous bats to play a critical role in controlling insect populations, making them important for ecological balance.