Common Flat-body vs Common Lacehopper

Agonopterix heracliana compared with Cixius nervosus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Flat-body	Common Lacehopper
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)
Family	Depressariidae	Cixiidae
Genus	Agonopterix	Cixius
Species	Agonopterix heracliana	Cixius nervosus

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Common Flat-body

LC — Least Concern

Common Lacehopper

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Flat-body	Common Lacehopper
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Flat-body

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Common Lacehopper

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

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.

Common Lacehopper

The Common Lacehopper (<em>Cixius nervosus</em>) is a planthopper insect in the family Cixiidae, classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is native to Europe, with records from five European countries, and also occurs in the United States in North America. The species typically inhabits virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats within its range, demonstrating broad ecological tolerance. Lacehoppers are hemipteran insects that feed on plant sap and are often associated with roots or low-growing vegetation. Adults typically emerge in summer and are capable of short flights between host plants. The Common Lacehopper's widespread distribution and occurrence across a variety of natural and semi-natural habitats support its stable conservation status. Its role in food webs as a prey item for insectivorous birds and other invertebrate predators gives it ecological significance within temperate ecosystems. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

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