Geoffroy's horseshoe bat lives in groups, congregating in large colonies of around 200 or more individuals to roost (10). In the coastal Western Cape Province of South Africa, colonies containing a staggering 10,000 individuals have been recorded (7), and it may also share caves with other bat species, such as the cape horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus capensis) (7). Leaving its roost at night, Geoffroy's horseshoe bat flies low as it forages for food (10). It feeds primarily on insects, especially long-horned beetles, moths and grasshoppers (11), although it has been reported that females may have a more specialised diet of just moths and butterflies (12). Like other bats, Geoffroy's horseshoe bat uses echolocation in order to detect its prey, emitting calls in the range of 84 to 86 kilohertz (4).
In the temperate regions of its range, Geoffroy's horseshoe bat may hibernate over winter, and prepares for this period of dormancy by storing excess amounts of body fat during summer. Remarkably, this species is able reduce its heart beat to just two beats per minute when hibernating (9).
In South Africa, Geoffroy's horseshoe bat mates in the month of May; however, ovulation and fertilisation normally occurs in August. During the intervening winter season, when the bat may hibernate, the female is able to store the male’s sperm (3). In December (the summer), when there is an abundance of prey, the female gives birth to a single young (7).