65.005 : 1648 : 7508
Drepanidae : Drepaninae

Pebble Hook-tip

DREPANA falcataria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Forms : Aberrations : Subspecies
D.f.scotica Bytinski-Salz, 1939-northern Scotland-background ochre-white
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 27-35mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : E Asia
UK Distribution: England,Wales,southern Scotland ssp.falcataria - where suitable habitat is found-not high ground  : Ireland-widespread but thinly scattered : northern Scotland Scotland-ssp scotica-widespread : Channel Isles-local
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena falcataria Linnaeus, 1758
Type Species - Drepana
  • Phalaena falcataria Linnaeus, 1758
Type Locality -
  • Europe-locality unknown
Altitude: up to 1500m in mountains
Flight Period: South-mid April to June & July to September/October-bivoltine : Northern Scotland-ssp scotica,mid May to late July
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Heathland
Similar Species -
  • Dusky Hook-tip Drepana curvatula Borkhausen, 1790
Larva: Viewed from the side the final instar larva is green just above and below the spiracles line where it changes to ruddy brown all but the first four abdominal segments which remain green.There are a series of ruddy brown humps in pairs at abdominal segments 2-5 and a single smaller one at the rear of the larva. Viewed from the front there are two ruddy stripes across the larva eyes.Larva-June to late July and September in two generations
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon between leaves
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth derives its name from the pebble like spots in the centre of the forewing with the other diagnostic markings being the purplish-brown strong marking adjacent to the wing apex.The hindwing is genarally paler than the forewing although in the second generation specimen shown in photo 2 clearly shows little difference.

The subspecies ssp.scotica Bytinski-Salz, 1939 the background colour is ochre-white and is found in northern Scotland.
The form f.pallida Stephan, 1924 is an extremely pale moth is less strongly marked.

The moth is attracted to light an can is found at the moth trap,usually in small numbers.
Subspecies
D.f.falcataria Linnaeus, 1758-England,Wales & southern Scotland
Forms
D.f. f.pallida Stephen, 1924 - Pale form
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
  • Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - DREPANA:

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Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Drepanoidea
Drepanidae
Drepaninae
DREPANA Schrank 1802
Drepana falcataria (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena falcataria (Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA falcataria (Linnaeus, 1758)
= Phalaena sicula Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
= Bombyx falcula Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
= Drepana crassistrigaria Strand, 1911
= Drepana infernalis Hoffman, 1912
= Drepana obscura Stauder, 1916
= Drepana curvatuloides Wagner, 1919
= Drepana estrigata Lucas, 1959
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.519 - n.128
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Europe-locality unknown
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D.f.f.pallida Stephan, 1924-extremely pale
D.f.f.estrigata Lucas, 1959-postmedial line feint
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D.f.scotica Bytinski-Salz, 1939-northern Scotland-background ochre-white
D.f.falcataria Linnaeus, 1758