Blackthorn slender vs Common Yellow Conch

Parornix torquillella compared with Agapeta hamana

Key Differences

• Blackthorn slender is Endangered while Common Yellow Conch is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blackthorn slender	Common Yellow Conch
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Gracillariidae	Tortricidae
Genus	Parornix	Agapeta
Species	Parornix torquillella	Agapeta hamana

Evolutionary Relationship

Blackthorn slender and Common Yellow Conch share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (Butterflies & Moths)

Conservation Status

Blackthorn slender

EN — Endangered

Common Yellow Conch

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blackthorn slender	Common Yellow Conch
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blackthorn slender

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 9 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (8 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Common Yellow Conch

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Blackthorn slender

The Blackthorn slender (Parornix torquillella) is a species in the genus Parornix. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found across Europe (8 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Common Yellow Conch

<em>Agapeta hamana</em>, the common yellow conch moth, is a small moth in the family Tortricidae. It is widely distributed across Europe and central Asia, ranging from Britain and Scandinavia eastward through much of the Palearctic region. The species inhabits dry grasslands, heathlands, chalk downlands, and scrubby habitats where its larval host plants are found. Adult moths display distinctive pale yellow to golden-yellow forewings with irregular brown or reddish-brown markings near the wingtip, forming a pattern that resembles the shell of a conch, lending the species its common name. The wingspan typically measures around 15–22 mm. Biological traits such as average adult lifespan, precise body weight, and detailed population data remain poorly documented in consolidated scientific literature. Larvae feed internally on the roots of thistles and knapweeds, particularly <em>Centaurea</em> and <em>Cirsium</em> species. Adults fly from June to August and are frequently attracted to light. <em>Agapeta hamana</em> has been investigated as a potential biological control agent for invasive knapweed species in North America, where it has been introduced experimentally. The species is assessed as Least Concern given its broad distribution and stable habitat associations.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden