Pebble Hook-tip
Drepana falcataria
This record describes Drepana falcataria (species). Recorded family: Drepanidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 27-35 mm. The largest and commonest of the 'Hook-tips'. The adults fly at night from May to June and have a second brood in August. The larvae feed usually on Birch but sometimes on Alder. Fairly frequent and found over most 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 Drepana falcataria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drepana falcataria.
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
- Drepana
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland and heaths.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly at night from May to June and have a second brood in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed usually on Birch but sometimes on Alder.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and found over most 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 Drepana falcataria. 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 Pebble Hook-tip (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pebble Hook-tip
What is Pebble Hook-tip?
Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria) is a species in the family Drepanidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pebble Hook-tip found?
Habitat: Woodland and heaths.
When is Pebble Hook-tip active?
Pebble Hook-tip: seasonal activity - The adults fly at night from May to June and have a second brood in August..
What is the life cycle of a Pebble Hook-tip?
The larvae feed usually on Birch but sometimes on Alder.