Cardinal Click Beetle vs common carpet

Ampedus cardinalis compared with Epirrhoe alternata

Key Differences

• Cardinal Click Beetle is Critically Endangered while common carpet is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cardinal Click Beetle	common carpet
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	Geometridae
Genus	Ampedus	Epirrhoe
Species	Ampedus cardinalis	Epirrhoe alternata

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Cardinal Click Beetle

CR — Critically Endangered

common carpet

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cardinal Click Beetle	common carpet
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.

common carpet

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (4 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

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.

common carpet

<em>Epirrhoe alternata</em>, commonly known as the common carpet, is a moth species found across Europe, Canada, and the United States. It typically inhabits all terrestrial and freshwater environments, often occurring in woodland edges, gardens, hedgerows, and areas where its larval host plants are abundant. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its broad distribution and generally stable populations. The common carpet belongs to the genus <em>Epirrhoe</em> within the family Geometridae. As a geometer moth, it is characterized by its distinctive wing patterns, which feature alternating light and dark banding that gives rise to its common name. The larvae typically feed on plants in the family Rubiaceae, particularly bedstraws (<em>Galium</em> species), and adults are often observed resting with wings spread flat against vegetation or bark. Biological traits such as average lifespan, wingspan, and body mass of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species is a common component of temperate moth communities across its range.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden