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7h ago

Studies Spotlight Green-Glowing Bats and Spider Webs That Tune Prey Signals

Fresh analyses reveal hidden optical and mechanical cues with real-world function still unverified.

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)

Overview

  • University of Georgia researchers documented ultraviolet-induced green photoluminescence on the wings and hind limbs of six North American bat species using 60 preserved museum specimens.
  • The emission peaked at 520–552 nanometers and appeared uniform across sexes and species, suggesting an inherited trait that could relate to communication, though no function has been confirmed.
  • The photoluminescent bats identified were big brown, eastern red, Seminole, southeastern myotis, gray, and Brazilian free-tailed bats.
  • Experts note preservation can enhance such fluorescence and stress that visibility and any ecological role in live animals require targeted field and behavioral studies.
  • Separately, numerical simulations by Gabriele Greco’s team indicate that stabilimenta in Argiope orb webs broaden potential vibration detection points for waves parallel to spiral threads, with negligible delay for perpendicular waves, supporting a testable prey-localization hypothesis.