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2w ago

Studies Reveal Green-Glowing North American Bats and a Vibration Role for Spider-Web Zigzags

Researchers urge live, field tests to verify biological function, aiming to rule out preservation effects.

Six species of North American bats—big brown bats (pictured), eastern red bats, Seminole bats, southeastern myotis, gray bats and Brazilian free-tailed bats—glow green under ultraviolet light, new research shows.
This is the first discovery of such a phenomenon for bats located in North America. The tricky thing now, the researchers said, is figuring out why. (Credit: Andrea Piazza)
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Overview

  • University of Georgia researchers report that six North American bat species emit a consistent green photoluminescence on wings and hind limbs when exposed to UV light.
  • All 60 museum specimens tested (ten per species) showed an emission peak at 520–552 nanometers, marking the first consistent report for bats native to North America.
  • The team suggests the uniform color and placement could reflect an inherited trait visible to bats, yet the ecological function remains unconfirmed.
  • An external expert, Linda Reinhold of James Cook University, argues the uniform glow likely results from preservation, underscoring the need to test live animals.
  • In separate simulations, Gabriele Greco’s group finds that stabilimenta in wasp spider webs can increase vibration reach for impacts along the spiral direction, a result that hints at improved prey localization and invites empirical validation.