Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths) ➔ Family Drepanidae (Hook-tips )

Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Birken-Sichelflügler Scalloped Hook-tip

Synonyms and other combinations:

Phalaena lacertinaria Linnaeus, 1758 [original combination] | Bombyx lacertula Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 | Falcaria dentaria (Thunberg, 1784) | Falcaria scincula (Hübner, 1800) | Falcaria curvula Haworth, 1809 | Falcaria aestiva Rebel, 1910 | Falcaria brykaria Schulze, 1912 | Falcaria takoraria Schulze, 1912 |

  • Falcaria lacertinaria, female 8391
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, female, conf. Tina Schulz
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-20 16:49:28
    Image number: 8391
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-20 16:49:28
    conf. Tina Schulz
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, female 8392
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-20 16:50:20
    Image number: 8392
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-20 16:50:20
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, female 8393
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-20 08:40:48
    Image number: 8393
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-20 08:40:48
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, female 8394
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-19 22:37:14
    Image number: 8394
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-19 22:37:14
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, female 8395
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-19 22:36:34
    Image number: 8395
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-19 22:36:34
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, eggs 8430
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, eggs
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-22 09:42:37
    Image number: 8430
    eggs
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-22 09:42:37
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, eggs 8431
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, eggs
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-22 09:47:28
    Image number: 8431
    eggs
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-22 09:47:28
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, eggs 8432
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, eggs
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-22 09:45:29
    Image number: 8432
    eggs
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-22 09:45:29
  • Falcaria lacertinaria 8433
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-07-27 00:00:00
    Image number: 8433

    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-07-27 00:00:00
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar 8434
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-06 09:47:22
    Image number: 8434
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-06 09:47:22
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar 8435
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-08 18:24:47
    Image number: 8435
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-08 18:24:47
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar 8436
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-08 18:26:53
    Image number: 8436
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-08 18:26:53
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar 8442
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-13 15:44:48
    Image number: 8442
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-13 15:44:48
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar 8443
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-13 15:45:08
    Image number: 8443
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-13 15:45:08
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar 8446
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-16 10:13:22
    Image number: 8446
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-16 10:13:22
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar 8447
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-16 10:13:36
    Image number: 8447
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-16 10:13:36
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar 8448
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-16 10:14:16
    Image number: 8448
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-16 10:14:16
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, pupation cocoon 8452
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, pupation cocoon
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-16 00:00:00
    Image number: 8452
    pupation cocoon
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-16 00:00:00
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, pupa 8467
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-22 00:00:00
    Image number: 8467
    pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-22 00:00:00
  • Falcaria lacertinaria, pupa 8468
    Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)  Birken-Sichelflügler  Scalloped Hook-tip 
    Falcaria lacertinaria, pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2018-08-22 00:00:00
    Image number: 8468
    pupa
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2018-08-22 00:00:00

Classification:
Falcaria lacertinaria belongs to the subfamily Drepaninae.
Distribution:
In most parts of Europe.
Habitat:
Birch forest
Description:
The Scalloped Hook-tip has wingspan of 27 – 35 mm. The sickle-shaped forewings with irregularly scalloped rear edges have a variable, brownish to grey basic colour. On each forewing there are 2 dark cross lines and a small dark dot in between.
The moths rest with roof shaped wing position.
Similar species:
A species similar at a cursory glance is the Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula from the Erebidae family. Laspeyria flexula rests with wings spread flat. The Beautiful Hook-tip has one distinct indentation at the rear end of each forewing and two dark dots between the cross lines.
Biology:
The Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria flies in two overlapping generations from April to August.
The caterpillars feed mainly on birch leaves (Betula pubescens and Betula pendula), but also eat alder leaves (Alnus glutinosa). Pupation takes place in a leaf folded and spun together. Falcaria lacertinaria hibernates as a pupa.
Note:
The female of Falcaria lacertinaria shown here flew into the apartment in the late evening and disappeared. At night, it laid eggs on the glass pane of the balcony door. The flat reddish-brown eggs have a length of almost 0.85 mm in the largest dimension. After careful re-accommodation of the eggs, and after they had lost their colour, I discovered a microscopic 1st instar caterpillar on the wall of the vessel with the eggs on 27 July and placed a birch leaf in it. After two days, small scraping marks were visible on the tip of the leaf. After another 2 days the still very small caterpillar showed up again on July 31st. It ate birch leaves until August 16th and started to spin its cocoon in the evening. In the morning of August 17, the pupation web between the vessel wall and a birch leaf was completed. While photographing the pupa later, it did not like the short stay in the sunlight. The pupa expressed this clearly by turning around its axis in the pupation cocoon.

References, further reading, links:
  1. Bestimmungshilfe des Lepiforums