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Males vs. Females?
How to tell:
As larvae, it is extremely difficult to determine the sex of Manducas. In adult
moths, the male's antennae are somewhat broader than the female's. It is much
easier to tell a male from a female during the pupal stage, when signs of the
developing reproductive system are visible.
- Take a pupa and look closely at the posterior underside – that's the
same side of the pupa as the developing proboscis, but at the opposite end.
- Close to the tip of the abdomen you will see a distinct "slot"
- this is the anus.
- Now, look anterior to the anus, to find the genital aperture.
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