Barred Hook-tip
Watsonalla cultraria
This record describes Watsonalla cultraria (species). Recorded family: Drepanidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20 to 28 mm. The English name describes it well. It is an orangey brown species with a darker central bar to the wings which are hook-tipped. A good photograph is generally required to support your record. Various habitats, often around Beech trees. This is a double-brooded species, with the adults appearing in May and June, then again in late July and August. At night it is attracted to light, but the males also fly in the sunshine, when they can be seen usually among the higher branches of beech trees. The caterpillar is brown, with a pale blotch on the back, and a short tail horn. It feeds on Beech and pupates in a cocoon between two leaves. Distributed locally in the southern half of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Wikipedia reference for Watsonalla cultraria: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watsonalla_cultraria.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Drepanoidea
- Family
- Drepanidae (Hooktip and False Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Drepaninae
- Tribe
- Drepanini
- Genus
- Watsonalla
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats, often around Beech trees.
Seasonal Activity
This is a double-brooded species, with the adults appearing in May and June, then again in late July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
At night it is attracted to light, but the males also fly in the sunshine, when they can be seen usually among the higher branches of beech trees. The caterpillar is brown, with a pale blotch on the back, and a short tail horn. It feeds on Beech and pupates in a cocoon between two leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed locally in the southern half of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Watsonalla cultraria. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Barred Hook-tip (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Barred Hook-tip
What is Barred Hook-tip?
Barred Hook-tip (Watsonalla cultraria) is a species in the family Drepanidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Barred Hook-tip found?
Habitat: Various habitats, often around Beech trees.
When is Barred Hook-tip active?
Barred Hook-tip: seasonal activity - This is a double-brooded species, with the adults appearing in May and June, then again in late July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Barred Hook-tip?
At night it is attracted to light, but the males also fly in the sunshine, when they can be seen usually among the higher branches of beech trees. The caterpillar is brown, with a pale blotch on the back, and a short tail horn. It feeds on Beech and pupates in a cocoon between two leaves.