Cardinal Click Beetle vs Variable Chafer

Ampedus cardinalis compared with Gnorimus variabilis

Key Differences

• Cardinal Click Beetle is Critically Endangered while Variable Chafer is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cardinal Click Beetle	Variable Chafer
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family	Elateridae	Scarabaeidae
Genus	Ampedus	Gnorimus
Species	Ampedus cardinalis	Gnorimus variabilis

Evolutionary Relationship

Cardinal Click Beetle and Variable Chafer share a common ancestor at the Order level: Coleoptera. (Beetles)

Conservation Status

Cardinal Click Beetle

CR — Critically Endangered

Variable Chafer

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cardinal Click Beetle	Variable Chafer
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.

Variable Chafer

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.

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 4 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland