Pest control in Tua’s Valley

Assessment of natural pest control is one of the main application areas identified in EnvMetaGen, and one of the research lines made possible through the capacities built by the project is related to the use of bats as pest controllers. Another case study on this application area is being developed in the Regional Natural Park of Tua’s Valley, in the north region of Portugal. In a collaboration between the Park and CIBIO-InBIO, with funding from the EDP Fund for Biodiversity, 100 bat-boxes have been placed at farms of five different municipalities in this region, in order to contain the proliferation of crop-munching insects. The boxes placed at the park offer new shelters for bats and increase the probability of feeding in these areas. This initiative has received extensive media coverage in Portugal, from both television, radio, magazines and newspapers. Some of the articles can be found on CIBIO-InBIO website.

BATS AGAINST INSECTS

Later, in July 27th 2017, this same project has attracted interest from the press again, since preliminary results concerning box occupancy by the bats show that it is higher than expected. In fact, it is observed a level of 58% occupancy when, after 6 months, only 10% was expected, according to the data that has been released by the Regional Natural Park of Tua’s Valley. This new set of articles is listed below.

• “Combate a pragas no Tua com morcegos apresenta resultados acima dos esperados” | Diário de Notícias
• “Combate a pragas no Tua com morcegos apresenta resultados acima dos esperados” | Ambiente Magazine
• “Combate a pragas no Tua com morcegos apresenta resultados acima dos esperados” | Público
• “Combate a pragas no Tua com morcegos apresenta resultados acima dos esperados” | Sapo 24
• “Morcegos podem ser alternativa a pesticidas?” | Jornal de Notícias