Cola-Nut Gall vs Common Flat-body

Andricus lignicolus compared with Agonopterix heracliana

Key Differences

• Cola-Nut Gall is Not Evaluated while Common Flat-body is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cola-Nut Gall	Common Flat-body
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Cynipidae	Depressariidae
Genus	Andricus	Agonopterix
Species	Andricus lignicolus	Agonopterix heracliana

Evolutionary Relationship

Cola-Nut Gall and Common Flat-body share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Cola-Nut Gall

NE — Not Evaluated

Common Flat-body

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cola-Nut Gall	Common Flat-body
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cola-Nut Gall

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

Common Flat-body

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Cola-Nut Gall

<em>Andricus lignicolus</em> is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. The name "Cola-Nut Gall" refers to the gall structure this species induces on oak trees, rather than a conventional common name for the organism itself. <em>Andricus lignicolus</em> has been recorded across parts of western and northern Europe, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The species occupies a broad range of terrestrial and freshwater habitats within its range, reflecting the wide distribution of its host oak trees. Gall wasps in the genus <em>Andricus</em> have complex life cycles often involving alternating sexual and asexual generations, with different generations producing distinct gall morphologies on the same or different oak species. The species has not been assessed under the IUCN Red List. Diet data and specific biological measurements for <em>Andricus lignicolus</em> are not documented in available sources. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Its ecological role is tied to its host plants, and like other cynipid gall wasps, it likely hosts a variety of inquiline and parasitoid insects within its galls.

Common Flat-body

<em>Agonopterix heracliana</em> is a moth belonging to the family Depressariidae within the order Lepidoptera. Commonly known as the common flat-body, this species is named for the flattened resting posture characteristic of the genus Agonopterix. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with no indication of significant population decline. <em>Agonopterix heracliana</em> is distributed across northwestern Europe, with documented occurrences in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Larvae of this species are typically associated with plants in the family Apiaceae, particularly hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) and related umbellifers, upon which they feed while sheltering in rolled or folded leaves. Adults are typically brownish with subtle markings and are active from late summer through winter and early spring, overwintering as adults — an unusual life history trait among moths. The species inhabits hedgerows, woodland margins, and meadows where its host plants are abundant. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark