Common Fieldcap vs small tortoiseshell

Agrocybe pediades compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Common Fieldcap is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Fieldcap	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Fungi (菌界)	Animalia (動物)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (担子菌門)	Arthropoda (節足動物)
Class	Agaricomycetes (真正担子菌綱)	Insecta (昆虫)
Order	Agaricales (ハラタケ目)	Lepidoptera (チョウ目)
Family	Strophariaceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Agrocybe	Aglais
Species	Agrocybe pediades	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Common Fieldcap

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Fieldcap	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Fieldcap

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

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

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.

Common Fieldcap

The Common Fieldcap (<em>Agrocybe pediades</em>) is a saprotrophic fungus belonging to the genus Agrocybe within the family Strophariaceae. It typically produces small, tan to pale brown cap-shaped fruiting bodies and is often found growing in clusters or scattered on lawns, grassy areas, forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil-rich ecosystems. The species typically inhabits forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems, obtaining nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter. Its geographic range includes several European countries — Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden — as well as the United States in North America. <em>Agrocybe pediades</em> is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its broad distribution and apparent stability. Biological traits of this species, including specific data on fruiting body size, lifespan, and ecological preferences, remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Like other members of its genus, it typically fruits during warmer months and often appears after rainfall in nutrient-rich grassland and woodland habitats.