An unmistakable moth with an irregularly scalloped edge to the forewing. At rest the wings are folded like a tent over the body resembling a dried leaf. There are two dark parallel cross-lines and a small dark dot between them. The females are more yellow-orange in colour whereas the males are more grey-brown.
The adults fly at night and are attracted to light. The larvae can be seen from June to July and August to September before overwintering as pupae in a folded leaf from the foodplant, dropping to the ground with the leaves as they are shed before winter.
Size and Family
- Family – Hook-tips (Drepanidae)
- Small Sized
- Wingspan Range – 28-36mm
Conservation status
- UK BAP: Not listed
- Common
Caterpillar Food Plants
Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) and Silver Birch (Betula pendula).
Habitat
Usually found in woodland, scrub, heathland and bogs. Also found in garden and hedgerows.
Distribution
- Countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
- Well distributed in England north to Yorkshire and Cumbria, Wales, Ireland and mainland Scotland into some of the Hebrides. Rare in the Channel Islands.
Scalloped Hook-tip - Patrick Clement
Scalloped Hook-tip
Patrick Clement
Scalloped Hook-tip - Koen Thonissen
Scalloped Hook-tip
Koen Thonissen
Scalloped Hook-tip - Garry Barlow
Scalloped Hook-tip
Garry Barlow
Scalloped Hook-tip - Koen Thonissen
Scalloped Hook-tip
Koen Thonissen
Scalloped Hook-tip - Ben Sale
Scalloped Hook-tip
Ben Sale
Scalloped Hook-tip - Ben Sale
Scalloped Hook-tip
Ben Sale
Scalloped Hook-tip
Scalloped Hook-tip
Scalloped Hook-tip (caterpillar)
Scalloped Hook-tip (caterpillar) - Patrick Clement
Scalloped Hook-tip (caterpillar)
Patrick Clement