23 November 2023
By: Joy January
Bats can be an effective and natural pest control method in apple orchards, according to Alexandra Howard, a PhD candidate in the Department of Zoology and Entomology and the Afromontane Research Unit at the University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa campus.
Prof Peter Taylor from the Department of Zoology and Entomology is Howard’s supervisor for her thesis titled “Diversity and ecosystem services of bats in apple orchards in the eastern Free State.”
Research project
“While studying for my master’s degree at the University of Pretoria, I discovered my passion for bats,” says Howard in an interview with L’Oréal-Unesco.
“Working in wildlife reserves and conservation, I realised that ecological research and agriculture need to be better connected because everyone knows how important agriculture is for South Africans.”
Howard says the role of bats in agriculture has not been sufficiently studied, especially in the Free State, one of South Africa’s important agricultural regions. She intends to assess the value of bats in integrated pest-control strategies.
Her research, which lays a foundation for more specific and targeted plans and actions to protect bats, can help apple producers harness the benefits of these small flying mammals. By consuming insect pests, bats can reduce the use of expensive insecticides and contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices.
Howard says there is a need to better connect ecological research and agriculture. “The public needs to be made aware of the important role of bats in the environment because they unfairly have a negative reputation. Fears of bats have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
In 2022, during field studies at six orchards in the eastern Free State, Howard monitored bats and insects to understand how the flying mammals benefit the fruit industry by controlling pests.
Her research suggests that little attention is given to how bats combat pests. Conventional farms pay little attention to biodiversity in pest control, while there is minimal research on bats.
Bat myths
According to Howard, the myths surrounding bats also influenced her research. “Most cultures have very negative views about bats, all stemming from myths and misconceptions. The social aspect of the research has provided interesting insights because we went to communities and conducted surveys to understand what South Africans believe about bats.
“We conducted our environmental education programmes in schools and on farms in the eastern Free State. Once we explained the benefits of bats – they are important for seed dispersal, pollination and pest suppression – people started thinking differently about these animals.”
Future steps
Howard wants to find ways to further bridge the gap between science and society. “I want to facilitate better collaboration between academics, citizens, non-governmental organisations focusing on conservation, the government and students because we all need to work together to address the biodiversity crisis.”
Howard received a scholarship from Bat Conservation International for her research. She recently learned that she is one of seven recipients worldwide of the 2023 L’Oréal-Unesco award for women in science.
