2020 Annual Report for: Drepanidae / Drepaninae

For species seen in 2020 that had less than or equal to 100 records, full details are included; for more common species, the earliest, latest and highest count by vice-county are shown. The narrative for each species is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species. The tables in each species account summarise the previous status, and that for the current year.

For the maps, all records prior to 2020 are shown by a blue dot (the larger the dot, the more recent), with the current year's records shown in red. As previous records are superimposed on any report for 2020, new sites have greater emphasis (i.e. will show as 'more red').

In the species accounts, an asterisk next to a location indicates a new 10km square record; earliest ever dates are highlighted in orange, and latest ever in red. Initials in the species accounts refer to the recorders listed here. Please get in touch if you identify any omissions or errors, in particular if you have records that have yet to be submitted. Details of how to submit records can be found here.

65.001 [B&F: 1645] Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in deciduous, especially birch, woodland, scrub, heaths, gardens and hedgerows throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 32-36 mm, female 34-40 mm. Combination of oblique cross-lines, irregularly-dentate termen, and tent-like resting posture characteristic. Larva feeds on Downy and Silver Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1012311718562019
112193266219512019
1263288919512019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10111
1147594
1232393

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, one, 14 Jul (IOu);

VC11: Brockwood, three, 07 Aug (SDut); Hale Purlieu, one, to actinic, 13 Aug; one, to actinic, 13 Aug (MCu); Acres Down, one, 08 Aug (CWlk); Culverley, NF, one, 19 Jul (CL); Woodlands, New Forest, present, 27 May (RBW); Ashurst, NF, one, 08 Aug (SAB); Totton, two, 04 Aug (LH); Romsey, one, to actinic, 20 Apr; one, 08 Jul; one, 16 Jul (NRJ); Kings Somborne, two, to actinic, 31 Jul; one, to actinic, 21 May; two, to actinic, 09 Jul; one, to actinic, 09 Jul; four, to actinic, 31 Jul; one, to actinic, 31 Jul; one, to actinic, 31 Jul; Ashley, one, to actinic, 22 Jul; Kings Somborne, one, to actinic, 07 Aug; one, to actinic, 15 Jul; three, to actinic, 07 Aug; one, to actinic, 07 Aug (GCE); Dibden Purlieu, one, to actinic, 31 Jul; one, to actinic, 01 Aug; one, to actinic, 10 Aug; one, to actinic, 13 Aug; one, to actinic, 12 Apr; one, to actinic, 07 Aug; one, to actinic, 10 Aug (RAC); Kings Somborne, one, to actinic, 15 Jul; Ashley, one, to actinic, 15 Jul; Kings Somborne, two, to actinic, 07 Aug; two, to actinic, 15 Jul (GCE); Botley, one, to actinic, 04 Aug; one, to actinic, 05 Aug (SLB); Hilltop, The Hangers, one, 01 Aug (SI); Shirrell Heath, one, 30 Jul (LEdg); Wickham, one, 10 Apr; two, 24 Apr; one, 17 Jul; two, 23 Jul; one, 27 Jul; two, 29 Jul; one, 04 Aug; one, 08 Aug; one, 09 Aug; one, 11 Aug (JRDS); West Meon, two, 31 Jul (F.M.G.); Sway, one, to actinic, 26 May; one, 08 Jun; one, to actinic, 22 Jul (S&SL); one, 19 Apr (SKe); Milford on Sea, one, 27 Jul (MMcM); Pennington, one, 07 Aug (RFC);

VC12: Cholderton, one, 08 Aug (TJN, HE); Harewood Forest, one, to actinic, 23 Jul; one, to actinic, 23 Jul; one, to actinic, 23 Jul; one, to actinic, 23 Jul; Chilbolton, one, to actinic, 14 Jul; one, to actinic, 14 Jul; Crawley, one, to actinic, 12 Aug; one, to actinic, 21 Jul; Barton Stacey, one, to actinic, 16 Jul (GCE); Ecchinswell, one, to actinic, 22 Jul (MTa, CSu); Burghclere, one, 01 Aug (PBl); Magdalen Hill Down, one, field observation, 10 Jul (T&SGra); Cheriton, one, to actinic, 31 Jul (DAS); Axmansford, one, 03 May; one, 13 Jul (ACB); Beech, one, 29 Jul (NDP); Pamber Forest, one, to actinic, 27 May; one, 06 Aug; one, 16 Apr; one, 04 May; one, 13 Jul; two, 07 Aug; one, 10 Aug; one, 15 Aug (GJD); Liss Forest, one, 18 Jul; three, 25 Jul; two, 01 Aug; two, 08 Aug; three, 15 Aug (RJM); Whitehill, one, to actinic, 16 Jul; one, to actinic, 16 Aug (ASto); Castle Bottom NNR, one, 16 Aug; one, to actinic, 16 Aug (JHH); Fleet, one, 06 Aug (AGi); Church Crookham, one, to actinic, 18 May (DDim); Yateley, one, 07 May; one, 07 Aug (JHH)

65.002 [B&F: 1646] Oak Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria (Hufnagel, 1767) - Common

Common in oak woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens throughout England, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 30-34 mm, female 34-40 mm. Somewhat similar to Barred Hook-tip W. cultraria, but larger and lacking dark cross-band of Barred Hook-tip. Larva feeds on Pedunculate and Sessile Oak, over-wintering as a pupa

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1040667019782019
114556672119462019
121009149319512019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
106821623
112404109
12931418

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Shanklin, 03 May, 1 (IOu) Latest: Walter's Copse, Newtown, 22 Sep, 3 (PBa) Max count: Freshwater, 14 Sep, 23 (PBa)

VC11: Earliest: Milford on Sea, 22 Apr, 1 (MMcM) Latest: Stanbrige Earls, 28 Sep, 1 (JRMi) Max count: East Tytherley, 14 Sep, 9 (GCE)

VC12: Earliest: Yateley, 19 May, 1 (JHH) Latest: Pamber Forest, 20 Oct, 1 (GJD) Max count: Yateley, 08 Sep, 10 (JHH)

65.003 [B&F: 1647] Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria (Fabricius, 1775) - Local

Local in beech woodland throughout England and Wales. Frequent where beech grows in the New Forest and on the chalk in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, although rare elsewhere in these counties. Wingspan male 26-32 mm, female 30-35 mm. Main confusion species is Oak Hook-tip W. binaria, but smaller and with a broad dark median fascia across the forewing. Larva feeds on Beech, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10141519302013
1158257818002019
1227128519402019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11295811
1212175

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Denny Lodge, NF, present, 08 Sep (iNat); Woodlands, New Forest, present, 15 Sep (RBW); Ashurst, NF, three, 15 Sep (SAB); Kings Somborne, two, to actinic, 21 May; two, to actinic, 31 Jul; two, to actinic, 21 May; two, to actinic, 31 Jul; one, to actinic, 22 Jul; three, to actinic, 21 May; two, to actinic, 31 Jul; one, to actinic, 22 Jul; one, to actinic, 31 Jul; one, to actinic, 03 Sep; one, to actinic, 31 Jul; four, to actinic, 31 Jul; two, to actinic, 31 Jul; one, to actinic, 21 May; two, to actinic, 31 Jul; Broughton, one, to actinic, 31 Aug; Kings Somborne, one, to actinic, 08 Sep (GCE); Dibden Purlieu, one, 09 Sep; two, 16 Sep (RAC); Southampton, one, 14 Sep (MEdg); Botley Wood, one, 18 Sep (F.M.G. det. KJW); Fareham, one, 07 Aug (ADT); Wickham Common, one, ♀, 11 Sep (F.M.G.); Lovedean, one, 11 Aug (ARJ); West Meon, two, 31 Jul; Hen Wood, five, 24 Jul; 11, 04 Sep (F.M.G.); Tuckton, Bournemouth, one, 10 Aug (APar); Sway, one, 10 Sep (S&SL);

VC12: Over Wallop, one, 12 Sep (CM); Cholderton, one, field observation, 05 Sep; one, field observation, 12 Sep (TJN, LF); Chilbolton, one, to actinic, 15 Sep; two, to actinic, 15 Sep; one, to actinic, 15 Sep; five, to actinic, 15 Sep; Crawley, one, to actinic, 12 Aug; one, to actinic, 12 Aug; one, to actinic, 07 Sep; one, to actinic, 17 Sep; Barton Stacey, one, to actinic, 11 Aug (GCE); Magdalen Hill Down, three, field observation, 28 May; one, field observation, 28 May; one, field observation, 28 May (DSte); Cheriton, one, to actinic, 10 Aug (DAS); Beech, one, 05 Aug; two, 08 Sep (NDP); Alton, one, to actinic, 22 Sep (BCA)

65.005 [B&F: 1648] Pebble Hook-tip Drepana falcataria (Linnaeus, 1758) - Local

Common in woodland, especially of birch, heathland and gardens throughout Britain. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan male 36-40 mm, female 40-43 mm. In Scotland moths are distinctly straw-coloured with outer markings darker (ssp. scotica), elsewhere, occasional individuals can be very pale (f. pallida), but only likely to be confused with Dusky Hook-tip D. curvatula, a rare immigrant from Europe, which is darker and has the three discal spots roughly the same size (in falcataria, the outer discal spot is much larger then the other two). Larva feeds on Downy and Silver Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1025928218562019
114865611619512019
121348196019512019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1018171
111251546
1256918

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Shanklin, 22 Apr, 1 (IOu) Latest: Haseley Manor, 11 Aug, 1 (IOu) Max count: Freshwater Cliffs, 16 Jul, 1 (SDa)

VC11: Earliest: Copythorne, 12 Apr, 1 (JAda) Latest: Stanbrige Earls, 17 Aug, 1 (JRMi) Max count: Lee, 08 Aug, 6 (CTh)

VC12: Earliest: Chilbolton, 16 Apr, 1 (GCE) Latest: Whitehill, 20 Aug, 1 (ASto) Max count: Liss Forest, 25 Jul, 8 (RJM)

65.007 [B&F: 1651] Chinese Character Cilix glaucata (Scopoli, 1763) - Common

Common in hedgerows, scrub, open woodland and gardens throughout England, Wales, southern Scotland and Ireland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight quite common in areas where hawthorn occurs, but may have declined in recent years. Wingspan 22-27 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Crab Apple, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2020

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1052664519592019
112754319419502019
12927115619492019

2020 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1053733
1179803
1262774

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Freshwater Cliffs, 11 May, 1 (SDa) Latest: Shanklin, 16 Sep, 1 (IOu) Max count: West High Down Quarry, 07 Aug, 3 (IOu)

VC11: Earliest: Woodlands, New Forest, 12 Apr, 0 (RBW) Latest: Stroud, Petersfield, 12 Sep, 1 (RAll) Max count: Pennington, 18 Jul, 3 (RFC)

VC12: Earliest: Cheriton, 10 Apr, 1 (DAS) Latest: Chilbolton, 15 Sep, 1 (GCE) Max count: Cholderton, 17 Jul, 4 (TJN, HE)