The common pipistrelle is Britain most abundant bat and one of the most familiar, yet bat populations generally have declined significantly as aerial insect prey has decreased, with pipistrelle welfare a direct indicator of flying insect community health.
Pipistrelle welfare is threatened by aerial insect decline driven by insecticide use, light pollution that disrupts insect emergence, and habitat changes reducing invertebrate diversity. Building renovation that blocks roost access causes direct mortality of roosting bats. Inappropriately applied pesticides within roost spaces cause acute poisoning. Garden lighting that reduces moth and other flying insect emergence adjacent to roost sites reduces foraging efficiency.