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Posted Thu Jan 29 2009: from Daily Record (NJ):
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Bat plague fallout: More bugs, fewer crops?
The potential environmental impact of White Nose Syndrome, recently diagnosed for the first time in New Jersey in the Rockaway Township area, likely would be significant according to bat experts and advocates.
"It's one of those experiments you never want to find the results of," said Merlin Tuttle, an internationally-known bat expert and founder of Bat Conservation International in Austin, Texas.
Since bats feed on insects, fewer bats would mean more mosquitoes. That could result in additional cases of West Nile Virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, in humans.... He said that Texas, for example, has a cave with 20 million bats credited with devouring 200 tons of insects per night.
"You could only imagine what the impact could be on crops," Tuttle said.
"Just like birds by day, bats have a huge impact in keeping the insect population in balance -- including some of the worst crop and back-yard pests," Tuttle said.
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Very Scary Tags: white nose syndrome, toxic buildup
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Serena says: "What's next -- a plague of locusts, or a plague of moths?"
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We'll have more cute little bugs? All the time!?
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Northern life endures a midwinter's thaw... [Climate]
Earth's big problem: Too many people.... [Climate]
Earth's big problem: Too many people.