Cardinal Click Beetle vs clouded drab

Ampedus cardinalis compared with Orthosia incerta

Key Differences

• Cardinal Click Beetle is Critically Endangered while clouded drab is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cardinal Click Beetle	clouded drab
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Elateridae	Noctuidae
Genus	Ampedus	Orthosia
Species	Ampedus cardinalis	Orthosia incerta

Evolutionary Relationship

Cardinal Click Beetle and clouded drab share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Cardinal Click Beetle

CR — Critically Endangered

clouded drab

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cardinal Click Beetle	clouded drab
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cardinal Click Beetle

Habitat

Inhabits temperate coniferous forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

clouded drab

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Cardinal Click Beetle

The Cardinal Click Beetle (Ampedus cardinalis) is a species in the genus Ampedus. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits temperate coniferous forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

clouded drab

The clouded drab (Orthosia incerta) is a noctuid moth in the family Noctuidae and one of the characteristic early-spring moths of temperate Europe and western Asia, flying from February to April when most other moth species are inactive. The adult wingspan measures approximately 35–42 mm with variable forewings ranging from pale greyish-buff through warm reddish-brown to dark grey-brown, bearing subtle cross-lines, stigmata, and the clouded, diffuse shading that gives the species its common name. The variability of the clouded drab has historically created confusion with related Orthosia species. Adults emerge early in the year, taking nectar from sallow catkins and other early-spring flowers. Larvae feed on the foliage of deciduous trees and shrubs including oak, hawthorn, birch, and hazel in woodland, scrub, and hedgerow habitats. The clouded drab is one of the more numerous and widespread spring moths in Britain and northern Europe, routinely recorded at light traps and regarded as an indicator of woodland health. The early flight season makes it an important pollinator of early-flowering trees and shrubs in temperate woodland systems.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden