tri-colored bat

tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus)
Photo © Michael Durham

FEATURES
The tri-colored has hair that is black at the base, orange-yellow in the middle and dark at the tip. It has small, red forearms and black wings. A blunt tragus is present in the ear.

BEHAVIORS
Formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle, the tri-colored bat may be found statewide in Illinois. In summer, it lives in caves, mines, buildings and trees. Mines and caves provide the winter hibernacula. This species eats insects. It flies before sunset, feeding near woods, fields and streams. It hangs alone while hibernating. Mating occurs in the fall and spring. Those females mating in the fall store sperm in the uterus until spring, when it used is to fertilize the eggs. Young are born in June and July. Two young are usually born per female. Females do not reproduce every year. Young can fly about four weeks after birth. This species has been known to live for more than 14 years.

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae