Parti-Coloured Bat

Native to a wide expanse of Eurasia, from Western Europe across to Japan, this species inhabits a variety of environments including forests, parklands, and urban areas where they roost in tree holes, buildings, and bat boxes. They are highly adaptable and can be found at various elevations, from sea level up to mountainous regions. The Parti-Coloured Bat is a migratory species, with individuals traveling considerable distances between their summer and winter habitats.

The diet of the Parti-Coloured Bat primarily consists of small flying insects, such as moths, beetles, and flies, which they catch in flight during their nocturnal foraging trips. Their foraging strategy involves high-speed pursuit in open areas, using echolocation to detect and capture their prey.

Reproduction in the Parti-Coloured Bat occurs once a year, with females forming maternity colonies in the spring to give birth and raise their young. A single pup is born after a gestation period of 50 to 70 days, typically in late June or early July. The young are cared for in the maternity colony and are able to fly and forage on their own after four to five weeks.

The population of the Parti-Coloured Bat is considered of Least Concern by the IUCN, although it faces threats from habitat loss, pesticide use, and disturbances to roosting sites. Conservation efforts are focused on habitat protection, monitoring populations, and promoting the importance of bats in ecosystems as pest controllers. The Parti-Coloured Bat's role in insect population control highlights the ecological importance of bats and the need for continued conservation support.