2021 Annual Report for: Drepanidae / Drepaninae

For species seen in 2021 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2021 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 2021, 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 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1012511918562020
112221269319512020
1266492719512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10583
11721118
1232505

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Osborne Valley Walk, 01 Jun, 3 (IOut) Latest: Osborne Valley Walk, 26 Aug, 1 (IOut) Max count: Osborne Valley Walk, 01 Jun, 3 (IOut)

VC11: Earliest: West Meon, 07 May, 4 (RJD, MLO, ADT, DWal) Latest: Thorney Hill, Bransgore, 08 Sep, 1 (JFen) Max count: Furzehill, NF, 12 Aug, 8 (SLoa)

VC12: Earliest: Pamber Forest, 27 May, 1 (GJD) Latest: Little Somborne, 03 Sep, 1 (GCE) Max count: Little Somborne, 13 Aug, 5 (GCE)

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 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1047990419782020
114784711119462020
121093162719512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10641027
1128043330
121322027

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Cranmore, 27 May, 1 (CHic) Latest: Shanklin, 09 Oct, 1 (IOut) Max count: Wootton Bridge, 03 Jun, 7 (DElm)

VC11: Earliest: Sway, 11 May, 1 (DMui) Latest: Thorney Hill, Bransgore, 25 Sep, 1 (JFen) Max count: Romsey, 07 Sep, 30 (NRJ)

VC12: Earliest: Little Somborne, 28 May, 1 (GCE) Latest: Kempshott, 24 Sep, 2 (GAH) Max count: Chilbolton, 09 Sep, 7 (GCE)

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 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10141519302013
1160763318002020
1228630919402020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10352
1113142
1218202

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Alverstone, one, 16 Aug (DFai); Osborne Valley Walk, two, 22 Jul; two, 26 Aug (IOut);

VC11: Burley, NF, one, 19 Jul (NDP); Broughton Down, one, 12 Jun (MBot); Brockenhurst, one, field observation, 31 May (PDB); Woodlands, NF, present, 24 Jul (RBW); Ashley, one, 04 Sep; Kings Somborne, one, 15 Sep; one, 09 Jun; Broughton, one, 25 Jul; Ashley, two, 24 Jul; one, 04 Sep; Crawley, two, 17 Jul (GCE); Botley Wood, one, 13 Aug (MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW); Petersfield, one, 14 May (RAll);

VC12: Shipton Bellinger, one, field observation, 26 Aug (BDal); Crawley, one, 13 Aug; Goodworth Clatford, one, 01 Jun; one, 21 Jul; Crawley, one, 28 May; two, 28 May; one, 13 Aug; Little Somborne, one, 03 Sep; one, 13 Aug; Crawley, one, 10 Aug; one, 13 Jul; Bullington, one, 16 Jul; Barton Stacey, one, 01 Aug (GCE); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 11 Sep (CBey, DAS, PDF); Beech, two, 06 Jun (NDP); Basingstoke, one, 19 Jul (MJW); Empshott, one, 30 Aug (CJP); Hammer Vale, one, 03 Jun (ASwa)

65.004 [B&F: 1649] Dusky Hook-tip Drepana curvatula (Borkhausen, 1790) - Rare migrant

Rare immigrant from mainland Europe, appearing in southern and eastern England. First recorded at Dungeness, Kent, in August 1960. In Hampshire the UK's fifth record was discovered at Totton in August 1991. Recorded on the Isle of Wight for the first time at Freshwater in 2002. Wingspan male 37-40 mm, female 40-49 mm. Can easily be overlooked as a dark Pebble Hook-tip D. falcataria, but in that species the outer discal spot on the forewing is much larger than the other two, and on the hindwing the cross-lines in Pebble Hook-tip are more jagged and the wing is noticeably paler towards the costa (MBGBI Vol 7 part 2). Larva feeds on Silver Birch, Downy Birch, Alder and Oak, no evidence of breeding in the UK.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
103320022018
113319912017

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC11: Boscombe, one, 21 Aug (GBro)

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 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1028030218562020
114933619219512020
121397204719512020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1035636
112293196
1210915815

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Totland, 28 May, 1 (RTer) Latest: Alverstone, 09 Sep, 1 (DFai) Max count: Haseley Manor, 19 Jul, 6 (IOut)

VC11: Earliest: Woodlands, NF, 17 May, 0 (RBW) Latest: Fareham, 11 Oct, 1 (ADT) Max count: Wickham, 17 Aug, 6 (JRDS)

VC12: Earliest: Pamber Forest, 12 May, 2 (GJD) Latest: Hammer Vale, 08 Sep, 1 (ASwa) Max count: Pamber Forest, 02 Jun, 15 (GJD)

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 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1058071819592020
112829325819502020
12989123219492020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1068973
111121375
1250769

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Shanklin, 08 May, 1 (IOut) Latest: Seaview, 14 Sep, 1 (J&SMas) Max count: Totland, 22 Jul, 3 (RTer)

VC11: Earliest: Woodlands, NF, 09 May, 0 (RBW) Latest: Sway, 12 Sep, 0 (DMui) Max count: Needs Ore NNR, 19 Aug, 5 (PCra)

VC12: Earliest: Beech, 09 May, 1 (NDP) Latest: Barton Stacey, 02 Sep, 2 (GCE) Max count: Morn Hill, Winchester, 17 Jul, 9 (CBey, DAS, PDF)