Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum)
The greater horseshoe bat is an insectivorous bat of the genus Rhinolophus. It has a distinctive noseleaf, which has a pointed upper part and a horseshoe shaped lower part. Its horseshoe noseleaf helps to focus the ultrasound it uses to ‘see’. The greater horseshoe bat also has tooth and bone structures that are distinct from that of other rhinolophids. The species feeds preferentially on lepidopterans (moths), making up around 41% of the diet- in particular the noctuid species, Coleopterans (beetles), dung beetles and cockchafers. Aphodius rufipes is one such dung beetle forming an especially important part of its diet.