Blackthorn Rust vs Cluster Bat

Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae compared with Myotis sodalis

Key Differences

Blackthorn Rust is Not Evaluated while Cluster Bat is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blackthorn Rust	Cluster Bat
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Pucciniomycetes (Pucciniomycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Pucciniales (Pucciniales)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Tranzscheliaceae	Vespertilionidae
Genus	Tranzschelia	Myotis
Species	Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae	Myotis sodalis

Conservation Status

Blackthorn Rust

NE — Not Evaluated

Cluster Bat

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blackthorn Rust	Cluster Bat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blackthorn Rust

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found across Asia (Taiwan) and Europe (5 countries).

Cluster Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Blackthorn Rust

The Blackthorn Rust (Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae) is a species in the genus Tranzschelia. Found across Asia (Taiwan) and Europe (5 countries).

Myotis sodalis, the Indiana bat or cluster bat, is a medium-sized insectivorous bat in the family Vespertilionidae endemic to the eastern United States. It is one of the most endangered bats in North America, listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The species is named for its behavior of clustering in extremely dense hibernation groups—sometimes thousands of bats per square meter—in specific limestone caves and mines during winter. These few critical hibernacula make the species extremely vulnerable to disturbance and disease. Since 2007, Indiana bats have suffered severe mortality from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation and causes mass starvation. During summer, Indiana bats roost under loose bark of dead trees and forage for insects over forested landscapes and riparian areas. Foraging individuals consume moths, beetles, and flying insects. Conservation efforts include cave gate protection, white-nose syndrome research, and summer habitat management on public and private lands across the eastern US.