Species · GBIF taxon 5218465
Common Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pipistrellusAlso known as Common Pipistrelle Bat, Pipistrelle Bat
These tiny bats emerge just after sunset, darting erratically through gardens and woodland edges to hunt thousands of aquatic midges and gnats each night. During summer, females gather in warm maternity roosts inside building crevices, where they give birth to a single pup. As winter approaches, they seek out cool, humid crevices in caves, trees, or brickwork to hibernate.
NocturnalInsectivorousUrban-Adapted
- diet
- Flying insects, primarily midges, mosquitoes, and small moths
- family
- Vespertilionidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, pesticide use reducing insect prey, and building renovations
- life Span
- 4 to 8 years, though some individuals live up to 16 years
LC
Can carry rabies-like viruses and bite if handled; observe from a distance and never touch without gloves.
Can carry European Bat Lyssavirus, a rabies-like virus, and may bite defensively if handled.
Never touch a grounded or injured bat with bare hands; contact a local wildlife rescue immediately.Protected by law in many countries; roosts are highly sensitive to disturbance and renovation work.
Avoid disturbing active roosts and consult conservation authorities before undertaking building repairs.- Dusk Watching: Stand near tree lines, garden ponds, or streetlights at twilight to watch their jerky, erratic hunting flights.
- Bat Detectors: Use a heterodyne bat detector tuned to 45 kilohertz to convert their ultrasonic echolocation clicks into audible pops.
- Roost Protection: Install bat boxes on south-facing walls or mature trees to provide safe roosting sites away from predators.