Cardinal Click Beetle vs False Saffron Milkcap

Ampedus cardinalis compared with Lactarius deterrimus

Key Differences

Cardinal Click Beetle is Critically Endangered while False Saffron Milkcap is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cardinal Click Beetle	False Saffron Milkcap
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Russulales (Russulales)
Family	Elateridae	Russulaceae
Genus	Ampedus	Lactarius
Species	Ampedus cardinalis	Lactarius deterrimus

Conservation Status

Cardinal Click Beetle

CR — Critically Endangered

False Saffron Milkcap

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cardinal Click Beetle	False Saffron Milkcap
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.

False Saffron Milkcap

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, 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.