How do bats catch insects while flying?

Bats catch insects while flying by using echolocation, a biological sonar system. By emitting high-frequency sound pulses and interpreting the returning echoes, they can identify the direction, distance, and velocity of their prey.1

The process of capturing an insect typically involves three phases of pulse output:1

• Search: The bat emits pulses at a steady rate to scan the environment.1
• Approach: Once an insect is detected, the bat increases its pulse rate and shortens the duration of the pulses as it closes the distance.1
• Terminal: During the final interception, the bat emits extremely short pulses at a very high rate—sometimes 200 or more per second—to track the insect's precise movements.1

Once the bat reaches the target, it may intercept the insect with its wing membranes and pull it into its mouth. This complex maneuver requires the bat's nervous system to rapidly process echo information while both the predator and the prey are moving in space.21