clay triple-lines vs Common corncockle

Cyclophora linearia compared with Agrostemma githago

Key Differences

clay triple-lines is Least Concern while Common corncockle is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	clay triple-lines	Common corncockle
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)
Family	Geometridae	Caryophyllaceae
Genus	Cyclophora	Agrostemma
Species	Cyclophora linearia	Agrostemma githago

Conservation Status

clay triple-lines

LC — Least Concern

Common corncockle

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	clay triple-lines	Common corncockle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

clay triple-lines

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Common corncockle

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including montane grasslands and shrublands, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and temperate coniferous forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Lesotho), Asia (7 countries), Europe (24 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil, Chile). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

clay triple-lines

The Clay Triple-lines, Cyclophora linearia, is a geometrid moth in the family Geometridae found across Europe and temperate Asia, inhabiting deciduous woodland, hedgerows, and scrubby areas where its larval host plant beech (Fagus sylvatica) is present. The forewings are pale clay-buff to cream, crossed by three distinct darker brown or ochreous lines from which the common name derives, with a small darker discal spot. The hindwings are similarly patterned but slightly paler. The species is well camouflaged at rest on bark and dead wood. Adults are crepuscular and nocturnal, flying in two generations per year in much of its range, with adults on the wing in spring and again in summer. The larvae feed on the young leaves of beech trees, and the species is strongly associated with mature beech woodland throughout its range. As beech woodland becomes increasingly threatened by climate change, drought stress, and changing forest management practices across Europe, specialist beech-associated insects like the Clay Triple-lines may face habitat contractions. The species is currently widespread and not considered globally threatened, but national populations show variation in abundance tied to the health of beech forest habitats.

Common corncockle

<em>Agrostemma githago</em>, commonly known as common corncockle, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. Once a widespread weed of cereal crops across Europe, Asia, and beyond, this species is now Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to the dramatic decline caused by modern agricultural practices, particularly improved grain cleaning and herbicide use. Corncockle is a tall, slender plant covered in silky white hairs, bearing large, solitary pink to purple flowers with distinctive dark veining. Its seeds contain toxic saponin compounds called githagins, which historically contaminated grain supplies. The species now survives primarily in wildflower conservation areas, seed banks, and traditional farmland conservation schemes. It typically grows in open, disturbed arable soils with full sun exposure. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.