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Photo#35987
Four-spotted Owlfly - Ululodes quadripunctatus - female

Four-spotted Owlfly - Ululodes quadripunctatus - Female
Hwy 55 and Sedwick, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
July 20, 2005
Size: 32 mm body length
Close-up showing grooved eye, characteristic of genus Ululodes, and rear wings not stalked, a characteristic, I believe, of the female of this species. Male has rear wings stalked, thinner abdomen, and no spots on wings, apparently. There is also a distinctive patch of hair on the dorsal surface of the male's abdomen, not present on the female. Perhaps these are scent scales or pencils? These features of the male are visible in this image:



I'm trying to establish some background on this species--it is not documented well, if at all, in popular guides. Eric Eaton has been very helpful in clearing up my confusion about the species, and I think I finally understand what is going on with the sexual dimorphism.

Images of this individual: tag all
Four-spotted Owlfly - Ululodes quadripunctatus - female Four-spotted Owlfly - Ululodes quadripunctatus - female Four-spotted Owlfly - Ululodes quadripunctatus - female

#35987 Identification -- Ululodes quadripunctatus (female)
This is the owlfly Ululodes quadripunctatus (Burmeister, 1839). The name "Ululodes quadrimaculatus", while a synonym of U. quadripunctatus, is incorrect under the rules of nomeclature.

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