Speckled Wood

[Stevieb]

I find it very difficult to identify male & female Speckled Wood. Could someone kindly tell if these are either male or female. Plus any tips for future reference?
Many thanks.

Male?

Female?

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Stevie - and that's a very good question! Most of the usual diagnostics are so variable, that I usually resort to the abdomen - if it's long and thin then it's a male, and if it's short and plump, then it's a female (i.e. her abdomen is full of eggs). On that basis, I'd say your first photo is of a female, and the second a male.

Of course, a photo doesn't show behaviour and this, again, can provide clues as to which sex you're looking at!

Cheers,

- Pete

[CallumMac]

Having spent a lot of time looking at (and breeding) this species over the last three years, I agree with Pete that the abdomen is by far the best way (arguably the only reliable way) to sex this species. Females can sometimes be skinny but the male claspers are always obvious.

And I also agree with Pete that yours are a female and a male, in that order.

[Stevieb]

Thank you very much for the info guys, much appreciated