False Cacao Moth vs small tortoiseshell

Ephestia woodiella compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• False Cacao Moth is Not Evaluated while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	False Cacao Moth	small tortoiseshell
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	Pyralidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Ephestia	Aglais
Species	Ephestia woodiella	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

False Cacao Moth and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (Butterflies & Moths)

Conservation Status

False Cacao Moth

NE — Not Evaluated

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	False Cacao Moth	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

False Cacao Moth

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium and Denmark.

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

small tortoiseshell

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark