Greater Noctule
Nyctalus lasiopterus (Schreber, 1780)
Pterygistes maximus Fatio: Buresch, 1917: 152-154; Vesperugo noctula Schreb. var maxima Kovachev, 1925: 61-63; Nyctalus siculus Palumbo: Peshev & Boev, 1962: 473.
Order Chiroptera
Family Vespertilionidae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Vulnerable VU [B1 b(i, ii, iv)], BDA-II, III; International: IUCN-LR/nt, BeC-II, BoC-II, HD-II, IV.
General distribution. From the Atlantic coast of Europe (France, Spain, Portugal), through Southern Poland in the north, to the Caucasus Mountains, Iran, the Usturt plateau in Kazakhstan in the east and Gibraltar, Sicily, and Southern Greece in the south. It is rare in the whole range. Almost everywhere, apart from the Iberian peninsula, only singular individuals have been found.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. One of the rarest bats in Bulgaria, known from 11 localities [1, 2], 10 of them being in Southern Bulgaria. Of these, 5 are in Strandzha, where it does not seem to be so rare. The locality near the village of Tabachka (Ruse region) is from owl pellets [4]. Since its registering in Bulgaria in 1917 [3], only 11 individuals have been caught so far. In the Western Rhodopes it has been registered at altitudes of up to 1 250 m, the village of Buynovo [5]. The data are insufficient to determine its numbers.
Habitats. The greater noctule is a flier of free spaces. In the whole range it is most numerous in deciduous forests, less often in mixed ones. It has also been found in town parks. It is registered all the year round in hollows of old trees. Singular individuals have been found in rock cracks, less often in buildings. It can probably be found in many places not only in the lowlands of Bulgaria, as has been the case for Greece [6].
Biology. One of the most understudied bats in Europe. So far there have been no data about its breeding in Bulgaria. The nursery colonies are small (about 10 individuals, rarely more) and live in holes of trees. The females give birth at the beginning of June: two, less often one, young. The food range is understudied but it is known to prefer large butterflies and beetles. The only European species of bat that also attacks small passeriform birds, especially during migration [7]. A seasonally migrating species. In Bulgaria it has been registered only from May to September.
Similar species. The noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula), from which differs with its larger dimensions: the length of the forearm is over 60 mm.
Negative factors. Felling trees with hollows and the decrease of the area of old forests reduces the possibilities for finding appropriate shelters. The insufficient quantity of large flying insects probably restricts its access to appropriate food.
Conservation measures taken. The species is protected according to the Biological Diversity Act, EUROBATS and all the other conventions (without CITES). Only a small part of the registered habitats fall within the natural parks (Strandzha and the Rila Monastery).
Conservation measures needed. A targeted study on the distribution and the biology of the species. Development of a management plan for the forest species of bats.
References. 1. Benda et al., 2003; 2. Popov et al., 2006; 3. Buresch, 1917; 4. Mitev, 1995; 5. Pandurska & Beshkov, 1998; 6. Hanak et al., 2001; 7. Dondini & Vergari, 2000.
Author: Boyan Petrov
