Drepana
Schrank, 1802
hook-tip moths
Drepana is a of hook-tip in the , Drepaninae. The genus includes with distinctive falcate (sickle-shaped) that give the group its . are folivorous, feeding primarily on birch and alder. Some species exhibit notable behaviors during larval territorial contests. are and primarily in spring and summer.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Drepana: /dɹɪˈpɑːnə/
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Identification
Hook-tip in the Drepana are distinguished by their falcate tips, which curve outward in a sickle or hook shape. This shape is diagnostic for the genus and . Specific identification requires examination of wing pattern, coloration, and . Drepana falcataria (Pebble Hook-tip) is the largest and commonest species in Britain and Ireland, with a distinct northern D. f. scotica characterized by paler ground color.
Images
Habitat
Woodlands, gardens, and heathland. Larval consists of birch and alder leaves where they establish and defend feeding territories.
Distribution
Britain and Ireland (widespread and common, though declined in abundance since 1970s); western and central Europe; Siberia. Drepana falcataria has expanded its range since 1970 but decreased in abundance. Northern Scotland a distinct with localized distribution.
Seasonality
at night from late April to June, with a second peaking in August in southern parts of the range. Northern have a single . Spring generation has shifted significantly earlier since the 1970s.
Diet
feed on birch (Betula spp.) and alder (Alnus glutinosa). do not feed.
Host Associations
- Betula spp. - larval primary
- Alnus glutinosa - larval secondary
Life Cycle
Over-winters as . develop through multiple , establishing feeding territories on leaves. occurs in a . emerge in spring, with second in late summer where climate permits.
Behavior
of at least two (D. bilineata and D. arcuata) exhibit vibration-mediated territoriality. They produce substrate-borne vibrations through drumming (striking the leaf with open ) and scraping (dragging specialized oar-shaped against the leaf surface). These vibrations function as honest signals of body size, allowing rivals to assess opponents and resolve contests without physical combat. Residents signal more frequently than intruders, with signaling rate increasing as intruders approach. are and attracted to light.
Ecological Role
are folivores on birch and alder, contributing to in woodland . Their territorial may influence leaf among .
Human Relevance
Subject of ecological research on in . Drepana falcataria is among the whose has been tracked as evidence of climate change effects, with spring shifting earlier since the 1970s.
Similar Taxa
- Other Drepanidae generaSimilar falcate shape; distinguished by specific wing pattern, size, and characters
- Falcaria (other hook-tip moths)Similar shape and ; Falcaria bilineata was formerly placed in Drepana as D. bilineata but has been reclassified based on morphological differences