Sexing odonate exuviae (Zygoptera)

For some (but not all) species of odonate larvae/exuviae, sex is indicated by either a rudimentary ovipositor (female) or vestigial genitalia (male). These sex organs don’t look exactly the same for all species of damselflies, but their function is identical.

The following photo gallery shows relatively clear examples that illustrate how to sex odonate exuvia in Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies).

Female (rudimentary ovipositor)

Family Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies)

(none)

Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies)

11 MAR 2017 | Argia sp. | exuvia (female)

Family Lestidae (Spreadwings)

(none)

Male (vestigial genitalia)

Family Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies)

18 MAR 2018 | American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) | exuvia (male)

Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies)

(none)

Family Lestidae (Spreadwings)

(none)

Related Resources

Sexing odonate exuviae (Anisoptera), by Walter Sanford
Odonate Exuviae, by Walter Sanford

This entry was posted on February 12, 2020 at 4:00 am and is filed under damselflies, digital photography, education, How To, macro photography, natural science, wildlife photography. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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