The lesser noctule is found locally across
Europe and western
Asia, eastwards as far as the
Urals and
Himalayas. It is also found in north-west
Africa, the
Canary Islands and
Madeira. The form in the
Azores is often considered to be a separate species –
Azores noctule (
Nyctalus azoreum). It is typically found in
forests, both coniferous and deciduous, but has also adapted to parkland and urban areas and frequently roosts in buildings. In most parts of its range the lesser noctule is rare, however in
Ireland it is much more common, being the island's largest and third most common bat species. Due to the lesser noctule's ubiquity in Ireland, the island is also considered its global stronghold. In
Britain it is known from a few colonies in
England and
Wales with occasional wanderers reaching
Scotland. Threats to its survival include declines in large
insects, loss of forest and hollow trees and toxic chemicals found in
treated timber in buildings. == Feeding ==