Both UK and EU legislation protects every species of bat in the UK due to the species’ sharp drop in population over the past few decades. The loss of foraging habitat, and roosts, as well as a considerable decline in the insect population, are to blame for this population decline.
Bats are becoming more and more reliant on artificial environments, where they roost in buildings and forage in nearby gardens. By installing a bat box, you may be providing bats with a safe area to roost.
What Bats Are Common in the UK?
The smallest and most prevalent of the 18 bat species found in Britain is the pipistrelle. It appears earliest in the evening compared to most other bats and is a member of the Vespertilionidae family, also referred to as ordinary or earlet bats.
Recently, it was found that the Pipistrelle bat, traditionally known as Pipistrellus pipistrellus sensu lato, actually consists of three species; Nathusius, Soprano, and Common. They are all extremely similar, but they can be distinguished by variances in the frequency of their echolocation calls and their genetic makeup.
Since there are recordings of Nathuisus commuting from Latvia every year, they differ significantly from Soprano and Common. Let’s have a look at the common characteristics of pipistrelle bats.
1. Physical Characteristics
The creature has a small body, short, broad ears, very narrow wings, short legs, a wide flat head, and a short tail. The colour of adults varies according to location; some colonies are primarily orange-brown, while others are primarily pale grey-brown. The muzzle and ears are both black.
Their wingspan can increase to a maximum of 19 to 25 cm, and their total weight falls between 3–9 g. Their head and body length are between 3 and 5 cm long, and they have a four-to-five-year lifespan on average. The longest documented lifespan is 11 years.
2. Habitat & Diet
Pipistrelle bats have diverse habitats, such as old-growth woodlands, marshes, gardens, parks, farms, and grasslands. They prefer wide, grassy regions that are enclosed by plants or trees; over water, they are frequently spotted flying low.
The pipistrelle hunts over a predictable beat while soaring between 2 and 13 metres above the ground, frequently up to 6 metres. The bat mostly consumes small caddisflies, tiny moths, midges, gnats, and various flying insects, which they locate in the dark while utilising echolocation in open areas near a building or tree. A huge insect that has been caught is brought to a perch to be consumed. Every day, a bat consumes hundreds of insects.
3. Hibernation and Breeding
While the sperm fertilises the female’s egg cells in the spring (a process known as delayed implantation), mating occurs in the autumn, right before hibernation. The weather and the availability of food have an impact on the growth of the embryo as it begins to grow. If circumstances are unfavourable, it will stop developing.
Early in the summer, the female pipistrelles establish their own nursery colonies, often in a crevice between roof tiles. During the summer, males roost separately, in little colonies; they only mix with the females in the winter and autumn.
The gestation period is between 44 and 50 days. At three weeks old, the younger ones are weaned and capable of flying on their own. Males mature sexually after two years, whilst females do so after one.
Conservation Status, Threats, and Why It’s Important to Protect Them
Despite being the most prevalent bat in Britain, the pipistrelle bat has been declining over time, along with the other species. The Wildlife and Countryside Act provides protection for all 18 species of British bats. It is illegal to meddle with any of them if they have established a home under your roof. There is no need to be concerned if you have resident bats because they pose no threat to you and your property.
Bats are starved of food as a result of the extensive use of pesticides, which may have possibly poisoned the bugs or insects they consume. The number of bat-friendly environments, such as ponds, hedges, and old grasslands, has decreased over time. They have additionally lost many of their usual roosting spots, including hollow trees.We reaffirm the significance of ecological assessments and pipistrelle bat surveys because we do not want to see these lovely mammals in decline. At Greenlight Environmental, we can offer the necessary safeguards for upcoming construction projects to ensure that protected bat species don’t become endangered. Book a bat survey with Greenlight Co today.
