Bat die-off

This is alarming (NYT). If life were a comic book, a killer bat fungus would somehow result in the creation of a new superhero. Alas, in this case, all we get are tons of dead bats.

Due to a fungus--or pesticides? or a virus?--bats are mysteriously dying off across the northeast U.S. They are leaving their caves when they shouldn't, and are often found hanging dead and covered in a strange fungus. Bat researchers say as many as 250,000 bats may die this year. Here they are, all dead and contorted in the snow:
Sad! The worst is--I wonder if this could have a measurable effect on the number of bugs in some areas. The Times article notes,

The die-offs are big enough that they may have economic effects. A study of Brazilian free-tailed bats in southwestern Texas found that their presence saved cotton farmers a sixth to an eighth of the cash value of their crops by consuming insect pests.