Cardinal Click Beetle vs Variable Darner

Ampedus cardinalis compared with Aeshna interrupta

Key Differences

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

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cardinal Click Beetle	Variable Darner
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	Aeshnidae
Genus	Ampedus	Aeshna
Species	Ampedus cardinalis	Aeshna interrupta

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Cardinal Click Beetle

CR — Critically Endangered

Variable Darner

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cardinal Click Beetle	Variable Darner
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 Darner

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.