Oak Hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
This record describes Watsonalla binaria (species). Recorded family: Drepanidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18-30 mm. The 'Hook-tip' moths get their name from the shape of the tips of the forewings and this species is one of the smaller members of the group. It is double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August. Mainly nocturnal in habits, it can be attracted to light. As may be expected, Oak is the larval foodplant. Reasonably common 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 common.
Wikipedia reference for Watsonalla binaria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watsonalla binaria.
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
Occurring in Oak woodland and parkland.
Seasonal Activity
It is double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August. Mainly nocturnal in habits, it can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
As may be expected, Oak is the larval foodplant.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Reasonably common 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 common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Watsonalla binaria. 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 Oak Hook-tip (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Oak Hook-tip
What is Oak Hook-tip?
Oak Hook-tip (Watsonalla binaria) is a species in the family Drepanidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Oak Hook-tip found?
Habitat: Occurring in Oak woodland and parkland.
When is Oak Hook-tip active?
Oak Hook-tip: seasonal activity - It is double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August. Mainly nocturnal in habits, it can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Oak Hook-tip?
As may be expected, Oak is the larval foodplant.