Mammals
Serotine
Eptesicus serotinus · also called serotine bat
Over a summer pasture at dusk, a serotine beats along on broad wings, a large dark bat hunting dung beetles in the grass beneath it.
Overview
The serotine, Eptesicus serotinus, is a Least Concern bat found across Europe and much of temperate Asia. Its large size, slow flight, and appetite for big beetles make it one of the most easily recognised bats of European farmland.
A bat of pastures and roofs
The serotine is closely tied to grazed pasture, where dung beetles and cockchafers are plentiful, and to roof spaces where its summer colonies gather.
Status
Least Concern, widespread across a large range.
Serotine: common questions
What does the serotine eat?
It eats large beetles such as dung beetles and cockchafers, as well as moths and flies.
Where does the serotine roost?
It often forms summer colonies in the roof spaces of buildings, where females raise their young.
Is the serotine related to the big brown bat?
Yes, it belongs to the same genus as the North American big brown bat.
Where is the serotine found?
It lives in farmland, parkland, and woodland edges across Europe and much of temperate Asia.