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Myotid Bats Biometrics: Flight Patterns: A slow to medium flight speed anywhere between low (less than 5 metres) to tree top height and sometimes seen over water. Emergence Times: 40 minutes after sunset although show a peak at 1 hour after sunset. Food: Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitoes & gnats), moths, beetles, earwigs, Hermiptera (true bugs) other small insects and spiders. Feeding Habitat: Open woodland, parkland, hedgerows and, characteristically, along water side vegetation. Roosts: Often crammed into crevices in stonework of man-made structures but often have a variety of roosts that are used in different ways. Commonly found in mortice joints. The size of a colony may vary between 20 to 100 bats. Summer - Traditionally trees but also old stone, well timbered buildings (e.g. castles and manor houses) and large timbered barns but rare in houses. Relatively few roosts are actually known. As mentioned above Natterer's bat will use crevices in beams or gaps in beam joints, also mines and garden walls during the summer. Winter – Hibernation sites are used in December with most individuals leaving by March. These bats show a preference for cool entrances to caves and mines but generally any underground shelter will suffice and sometimes even exposed rock crevices or churches. Most roosts will be comprised of individual bats or small groups. Breeding: Mating occurs mainly in autumn but has been observed during the winter months. Maternity colonies of females are formed during May & June but will continue until September or October. Females give birth to a single young at the end of June or July. |