We investigated whether a diet of a commonly eaten insect, June beetles (Phyllophaga rugosa), could meet the daily nutritional requirements of pregnant big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus. In mid-pregnancy, ingestion of 34 culled June beetles meets daily caloric requirement and yields intakes of water, magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and nitrogen (N) that meet or exceed nutritional needs. Sodium (Na+) and total iron intake are marginally adequate, and calcium (Ca2+) intake is 10 times below estimated requirements.
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Keeler et al. (1992) studied this question.
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