Dot-tailed Whiteface

This is a female, not only no claspers, but for this species the males only have a yellow spot at the end - segment 7 - not all the way down the abdomen.

David Bree
Bloomfield, ON

… David Bree, 1 March, 2005 - 11:04pm

teneral males

...have spots all the way down the abdomen, as shown here but all the spots (except the most distal one) disappear within a few days following emergence, according to Paul Pratt. This male is in the process of losing his spots.

… Robin McLeod, 2 March, 2005 - 12:15am

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Good to know about the spots disappearing. The photo you reference shows it nicely. Thanks

… David Bree, 2 March, 2005 - 10:26am

claspers

We would think the claspers would be evident in this image if the animal were male even though it is an immature. Males have long appendages at the tip of their abdomen which they use to hold the female behind the head. Yours does not. We would say your image is of a female.

… john and jane balaban, 1 March, 2005 - 3:12pm

female

Thanks, John; I see the difference now, after looking again at the chaparraltree photo I linked to.

… Robin McLeod, 2 March, 2005 - 12:18am