Lesser horseshoe bat
Rhinolophus hipposiderus
Ystlum pedol lleiaf

 

Photo by Jean Matthews

Click here for Lesser horseshoe bat identification.  Click here to view the Lesser horseshoe bat distribution map

Status:

The lesser horseshoe is a native species, at its northern limit of distribution in Snowdonia which provides a stronghold within its restricted distribution in the UK. Like the rarer greater horseshoe species, the main maternity roosts are in south-west Wales, Forest of Dean, Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall together with north-west Wales.

The species has European Protected Species status in the UK and is a Priority Biodiversity Action Plan species where it occurs. Although threatened by loss of roost sites and foraging habitat the lesser horseshoe populations appear to be stable and slightly increasing.

This is predominantly a cave dwelling bat in Europe, although UK nursery colonies are chiefly located in loft spaces of older buildings, barns, out-buildings and warm cellars but also some mines, tunnels or caves. The species is known to select microclimates within roost sites so that the colony can be dispersed depending on sex and reproductive condition. Breeding females select warmer sites while males and non-breeding females may be at cooler locations or even dispersed into satellite sites in nearby buildings.

The species emerges about 30 minutes after sunset, but at roost entrances there may be much activity of animals flying to check on light levels to reduce predation risk (especially from sparrowhawks). On emergence the bats may have favoured routes along linear features and will often fly 1-2m above the ground at the side of a tall hedge or woodland edge or through dense cover. Once at a foraging site (generally cattle grazed  and wooded pasture or within deciduous woodland) the lesser horseshoe may adopt a hunting strategy of hawking for small moths, dung flies, midges, fungus gnats, craneflies, caddisflies and lacewings in decreasing order of preference. They may also choose a bare twig to hang from and scan for passing prey which they intercept like a flycatcher as in the greater horseshoe bat.

Summer roosts may consist of 30 – 550 adults at the main UK maternity roosts. In winter the bats may disperse to a large number of underground sites, particularly mine adits and levels.

The greatest recorded longevity for this species is 21 years.