Cardinal Click Beetle vs Lesser Puss Moth

Ampedus cardinalis compared with Cerura erminea

Key Differences

• Cardinal Click Beetle is Critically Endangered while Lesser Puss Moth is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cardinal Click Beetle	Lesser Puss Moth
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	Notodontidae
Genus	Ampedus	Cerura
Species	Ampedus cardinalis	Cerura erminea

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Cardinal Click Beetle

CR — Critically Endangered

Lesser Puss Moth

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cardinal Click Beetle	Lesser Puss Moth
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.

Lesser Puss Moth

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, 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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇸🇪 Sweden