Cardinal Click Beetle
Ampedus cardinalis
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Shamil Murtazin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shamil Murtazin
Overview
The Cardinal Click Beetle (Ampedus cardinalis) is a striking red-colored click beetle distinguished by its vibrant cardinal-red elytra and robust body structure. This species plays a crucial ecological role as both predator and decomposer, with larvae feeding on wood-boring insects within decaying hardwood trees while adults contribute to nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems.
The Cardinal Click Beetle faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from deforestation and land conversion in its limited range. As a saproxylic species dependent on decaying wood in old-growth forests, it is particularly vulnerable to logging activities and forest fragmentation that eliminate the dead and dying trees essential for its larval development.
Habitat
Cardinal Click Beetles inhabit mature deciduous and mixed forests, specifically requiring large diameter dead or dying oak, maple, and beech trees for reproduction and larval development. Adults are typically found in forest canopies and on decaying wood surfaces in old-growth forest remnants with substantial coarse woody debris.
Other threatened species in Elateridae
Threatened in Austria
Frequently asked questions
Why is Cardinal Click Beetle classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Cardinal Click Beetle live?
What are the main threats to Cardinal Click Beetle?
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