How can I tell the difference between a male and female staghorn
beetle (also known as "Bess Bugs")?

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Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 10 Feb 2006 14:42 PST

Howdy flamingmonkeyman-ga,

Just so we are on the same page, is this the type of beetle you want to know
about?  Thanks!
http://www.insectia.com/beta/e/ip_c202040_1.html

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Clarification of Question by flamingmonkeyman-ga on 11 Feb 2006 05:06 PST

Yes.  The bug pictured at
http://www.insectia.com/beta/e/ip_c202040_1.html is the bug we have.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 11 Feb 2006 05:38 PST

The book:

American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea


says:


"Male genitalia are trilobed.  Female genitalia with paraproacts,
proctiger, and styli absent; valvifers and coxite present."


Good luck!


pafalafa-ga


P.S.  This site:  http://bugguide.net/node/view/16856/bgimage   says
the males are a bit bigger, but they don't really seem certain.