Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)

Order: Chiroptera | Family: Rhinolophidae

Biology: A tiny bat weighing between 3–9 g. Mating occurs in the autumn. During gestation, birth, and nursing, females separate from males to form maternity colonies of dozens to several hundred individuals. The female gives birth to a single pup and nurses it until it is capable of flying and hunting on its own. They reach sexual maturity in their second year.

Habitat: Rocky valleys and wooded areas; they use caves and underground shelters for both hibernation and breeding.

Ecological Role: They hunt insects across forests, pastures, and farmlands, as well as over water banks. Their diet consists of flies, moths, and small beetles; they can also glean spiders directly from tree branches. Their average lifespan is 4–6 years.

Conservation Status: Listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova [EN] and the IUCN Red List – LC.

Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus)

Order: Chiroptera | Family: Vespertilionidae

Biologie: Este una dintre cele mai mici specii de lilieci din fauna Moldovei (greutatea corpului: 4-7 g). Copulația are loc din toamnă până în primăvară. Coloniile de maternitate se formează în luna mai și numără 20-50 de femele. În iunie se naște de regulă un pui, rareori doi. Femelele devin mature sexual la 15 luni, dar unele la 3 luni. 

Habitat: ecosistemele forestiere și petrofile, păduri, pante abrupte cu grote, fisuri și mine. 

Rol Ecologic: Vânează molii,diptere, himenoptere etc. îndată după apusul soarelui timp de câteva ore și dimineața înainte de răsăritul soarelui. Longevitatea medie – 4 ani, maximă – 23 ani.

Statut de Conservare: Specie rară, inclusă în Cartea Roșie a Republicii Moldova (VU) și în Lista Roșie a IUCN (EN).

Common Noctule (Nyctalus noctula)

Order: Chiroptera | Family: Vespertilionidae

Biology: A large bat species weighing 18–40 g. Maternity colonies can consist of up to 100 females, who give birth to one or two pups starting in mid-June. In August, males move to mating roosts in tree hollows and "sing" to attract females. It is the first species to emerge at dusk, often appearing before sunset.

Habitat: While it prefers deciduous forests, it is also widely distributed across urban environments, roosting in building crevices, under roofs, and within other human infrastructure.

Ecological Role: Its diet consists of flies, mosquitoes, moths, and beetles. The average lifespan is 2.2–2.5 years, with a maximum of 12 years. In Europe, they are long-distance migrants, traveling over 1,000 km between September and November.

Conservation Status: On the IUCN Red List – LC.

Brown Long-Eared Bat (Plecotus auritus)

Order: Chiroptera | Family: Vespertilionidae

Biology: A small to medium-sized species weighing 6–9 g. Maternity colonies consist of 5–50 females, who give birth to one or two pups in June or July. Males live solitarily during the summer. They reach sexual maturity during their first autumn or in their second year.

Habitat: Forest ecosystems with hollow trees and buildings. They hibernate in caves, mines, rock crevices, and tree hollows.

Ecological Role: They hunt within vegetation, gleaning insects directly from leaves—primarily moths and flies—and also collecting caterpillars and spiders. Their average lifespan is about 15 years (typically longer in females), with a recorded maximum of 30 years.

Conservation Status: Listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova [EN] and the IUCN Red List – LC.

Nathusius' Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii)

Order: Chiroptera | Family: Vespertilionidae

Biology: A small species weighing 6–15 g. Unlike many other bats, they do not typically hang upside down. In autumn, males and females gather in mating colonies, while in spring, they form separate groups. Mating takes place in the fall. Females give birth to two, or rarely three, pups. Breeding roosts are usually abandoned by the end of July.

Habitat: A woodland species that can also be spotted in parks, gardens, or near water sources.

Ecological Role: They begin hunting immediately after sunset, catching small insects like mosquitoes, midges, and flies on the wing along forest edges, shelterbelts, and running water banks. Their typical lifespan is 4–5 years, though some individuals reach 13–14 years. This species is a long-distance seasonal migrant, traveling distances of around 1,000 km.

Conservation Status: Listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova [EN] and the IUCN Red List – LC.

Kuhl's Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii)

Order: Chiroptera | Family: Vespertilionidae

Biology: A small species weighing 5–10 g. Breeding colonies are small, typically consisting of up to 20 females, who give birth to one or two pups in late May or early June. Young bats reach sexual maturity within their first year. Mating takes place in August and September.

Habitat: This species is highly adapted to urban environments, utilizing buildings, rock crevices, and tree hollows. It hibernates in man-made structures (such as cellars or window frames) as well as rocky formations.

Ecological Role: They begin hunting after sunset, flying at low altitudes in wide circles. They often forage within settlements—around street lamps, over gardens, and along water banks. They prey on small flying insects, including moths, mosquitoes, and flies. Their lifespan ranges from 4 to 8 years.

Conservation Status: Listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova [VU] and the IUCN Red List – LC.

Serotine Bat (Eptesicus serotinus)

Order: Chiroptera | Family: Vespertilionidae

Biology: A large bat species weighing 15–35 g. Mating takes place in both autumn and spring. Breeding colonies form in May, typically consisting of 10–60 adult females. Following a gestation period of 6–8 weeks, pups are born in the latter half of June and become independent after two months.

Habitat: Found across forests, open, and urban ecosystems; they utilize buildings, mines, grottoes, attics, and underground cavities for both roosting and hibernation.

Ecological Role: These bats maintain multiple hunting grounds, often located 5–12 km away from their roosts. Their diet includes large insects such as beetles, moths, flies, wasps, and true bugs. They have an average lifespan of 5–6 years, with a recorded maximum of 19 years.

Conservation Status: In the IUCN Red List – LC.