Observations on a maternity colony of Gould’s Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

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Abstract
A maternity colony of Gould''s wattled bat, Chalinolobus gouldii living in Ivanhoe, a suburb of Melbourne, [Victoria, Australia] was observed from 1974 to 1981. The colony size was roughly stable, consisting of 20-30 individuals, but decreased after 1979. Few bats were active during winter hibernation from mid to late May to late August or early September, although some individuals emerged periodically during this time. Females out-numbered males by three to one, and were larger and heavier than males. Seasonal changes in weights were observed in both males and females. A total of 159 bats were banded during the study, 64 of which were males and 95 females. Most bats born in the area did not remain there longer than a year. All of the long-term residents were females, ranging up to 5 years of age. No adult males were recorded in the area for more than one year. Young were born in late Spring. Males born in the area did not seem to mate with the females there. Most pregnant females were present in September or October, most lactating females and dependent juveniles in November or December, and most fledglings in December or January. Twins were common. Juveniles developed rapidly, and appeared similar to adults by the time they were 6 weeks old. The diet consisted mainly of insects, mostly lepidopterans and coleopterans, and less frequently dipterans and orthopterans. Ectoparasites included two types of mites and one type of wingless dipteran.