Cardinal Click Beetle vs Variable Dancer

Ampedus cardinalis compared with Argia fumipennis

Key Differences

• Cardinal Click Beetle is Critically Endangered while Variable Dancer is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cardinal Click Beetle	Variable Dancer
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Odonata (Odonata)
Family	Elateridae	Coenagrionidae
Genus	Ampedus	Argia
Species	Ampedus cardinalis	Argia fumipennis

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Cardinal Click Beetle

CR — Critically Endangered

Variable Dancer

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cardinal Click Beetle	Variable Dancer
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 Dancer

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in 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.