2022 Annual Report for: Drepanidae / Drepaninae

For species seen in 2022 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is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species.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 2022 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 2022, 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 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1013012718562021
112330285319512021
1270198319512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1092412
11961416
1238564

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Cranmore, 13 Jul, 0 (CHic) Latest: Briddlesford, 16 May, 1 (JRB) Max count: Osborne Wood, 18 Jul, 12 (IOu)

VC11: Earliest: Brockwood, 11 Jul, 1 (SDut) Latest: Needs Ore NNR, 29 Jul, 1 (CNB) Max count: Avon Heath Country Park, 23 Aug, 6 (Rbis)

VC12: Earliest: Cholderton, 19 Jul, 1 (TJN) Latest: Farnborough, 26 Jul, 1 (RSea) Max count: Little Somborne, 22 Jul, 4 (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 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10545100819782021
115205776519462021
121248186419512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
108515010
1138166713
12801266

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: West High Down quarries, 12 Jul, 3 (IOu) Latest: Wootton Bridge, 14 May, 1 (DElm) Max count: Osborne Wood, 18 Jul, 10 (IOu)

VC11: Earliest: Avon Heath Country Park, 26 Jul, 1 (Rbis) Latest: Hayling Island, 18 Jul, 1 (STho) Max count: Needs Ore NNR, 02 Sep, 13 (CNB)

VC12: Earliest: Nether Wallop, 02 Sep, 2 (GCE) Latest: Farnborough, 12 Sep, 1 (KBW) Max count: Chilbolton, 03 Sep, 6 (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 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10172019302021
1163165718002021
1231233619402021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
109154
11264519
1246604

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Totland, one, 27 Jul (RTer); Newport, one, 11 Aug (DPl); Shide, Newport, one, 16 Jul (CViny); Shanklin, one, 18 Jul (IOu); Alverstone, one, 13 Jul (DFai); Osborne Valley Walk, three, 09 May; Osborne Wood, four, 18 Jul; two, 13 Aug; one, 14 Sep (IOu);

VC11: Copythorne, one, 12 Jul (JAda); Woodlands, NF, present, 19 Jul (RBW); Romsey, one, 18 Jul (SRC); Kings Somborne, one, 27 Jul; two, 27 Jul; one, 31 Aug; Ashley, one, 10 Aug; Kings Somborne, one, 27 Jul; one, 27 Jul; one, 31 Aug; Broughton, one, 02 Sep; two, 10 May; Ashley, one, 10 Aug; Crawley, one, 29 Aug (GCE); Vale Park, Chandler's Ford, one, 09 Sep (KArb); Allbrook, one, 29 Jul (SIng); Crawley, one, 29 Aug; two, 29 Aug (GCE); Botley Wood, one, male. This is not an area of Botley Wood with beeches, so this moth was unexpected, 15 Apr (RJD, MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW); The Hangers, Bishops Waltham, one, 06 Aug (SIng); Lovedean, one, 04 Jul; one, 09 Jul; one, 19 Jul (ARJ); West Meon, 19, 06 May (RJD, MLO, DWal, KJW); Hen Wood, one, 19 Aug (KCok, MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW); Stroud, Petersfield, present, 10 May (RAll); Lower Buckland, Lymington, one, 18 Jul (JWar);

VC12: Cholderton, one, 19 Jul (TJN); Nether Wallop, one, 08 Aug; two, 02 Sep; four, 02 Sep; two, 08 Aug; two, 02 Sep; Broughton, one, 10 May; Longstock, one, 18 Aug; Chilbolton, one, 06 May; one, 06 May; Crawley, one, 09 Jul; one, 01 Aug; one, 01 Aug; Barton Stacey, one, 02 May; one, 02 May; one, 02 May; Cole Henley*, one, 23 Aug; one, 22 Sep (GCE); Ecchinswell*, one, 08 Jun (MTay, CSul); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 09 Jul; one, 27 Aug (CRB, DAS, PDF et al); Cheriton, one, 03 May; two, 12 Jul (DAS); Hinton Ampner, one, 17 Jul (ASD); North Waltham, one, 21 Jul; one, 01 Aug (AJon); Basingstoke, one, 17 Jul (GAH); Ecchinswell, one, 12 Sep (MJN); Basingstoke, three, 12 Jul; two, 16 Jul; two, 18 Jul; one, 19 Jul; one, 04 Aug; one, 01 Sep (MJW); Whitedown, Alton, one, 19 Jul (BCA); Alton, one, 11 Aug (DBO); Windmill Hill, Chalton, one, 16 Jul; Selborne, one, 18 Aug; one, 06 May (CJP); Whitehill, one, 31 Jul (ASto); Blackwater, one, 12 Jul; one, 24 Jul (BGD)

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 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
103320022018
114419912021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

Record Details

VC10: Osborne Wood*, one, 18 Jul (IOu)

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 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1031536518562021
115293667619512021
121531223319512021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1033525
111661934
1261864

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Cranmore, 05 May, 0 (CHic) Latest: Briddlesford Big Wood, Wootton Bridge, 20 May, 2 (IOu) Max count: Osborne Valley Walk, 09 May, 5 (IOu)

VC11: Earliest: Brockwood, 26 Aug, 1 (SDut) Latest: Browndown Coastal Ranges, 08 Jul, 1 (RJD, ADT, DWal & KJW) Max count: Needs Ore NNR, 16 Jul, 7 (CNB)

VC12: Earliest: Cholderton, 19 Jul, 1 (TJN) Latest: Farnborough, 26 May, 1 (KBW) Max count: Pamber Forest, 11 Jul, 4 (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 2022

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
1064981819592021
112982344019502021
121059133419492021

2022 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
101121939
111932637
121322128

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: West High Down quarries, 12 Jul, 1 (IOu) Latest: Osborne Wood, 13 Aug, 1 (IOu) Max count: Alverstone, 30 Aug, 9 (DFai)

VC11: Earliest: Fordingbridge, 15 Jul, 1 (SCT) Latest: Browndown Coastal Ranges, 12 Aug, 1 (KCok, RJD, MLO, ADT, DWal) Max count: Woodlands, NF, 04 Sep, 7 (CJon)

VC12: Earliest: Cholderton, 19 Jul, 1 (TJN) Latest: Blackwater, 02 May, 1 (BGD) Max count: Littleton, 15 Aug, 8 (GCE)