newbie007 Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 http://maria.fremlin.org/Fremlin_Hendriks_EB_2014.pdf I was reading the above article, and on the second page it mentions two ways to sex a cervus, is this universal for all stag beetle grubs, for example north american species? From what I understand the first method, looking for the black spot for the terminal ampulla, is done for other grubs, but never heard it used for stag beetle larvae. The second method is new to me, but seems like a much easier method assuming you can correctly identify the organ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie007 Posted August 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2021 So I was not able to compare my larvae to anything, until now! I examined my larvae for maybe 10-15 minutes, could not find any sign of the ovaries. However I also could not definitively figure out if I was able to find the black dot for the terminal ampulla, it seemed like it was possible but depending on how the grub was squirming about it was sometimes maybe possible I saw something other times nothing seemed visible. I was able to finally get out to the forest I found my grub in, and my goal was to find a few more grubs to compare it too. I found two grubs almost immediately under white rot logs, flipped over to see their back, and immediately noticed this yellow/orange oval shaped organ. So with that said, obviously I can't be 100% certain until it pupates, but is this a pretty good chance I have a male? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie007 Posted August 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2021 Here's the second grub I found today, also with that yellow/orange organ visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie007 Posted August 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2021 And then here is the one I have been keeping, nothing seems to be visible. Not sure if any breeders can confirm, but seems like this should be a male if the article in the first post is correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes TItyus hunter Posted August 1, 2021 Report Share Posted August 1, 2021 Give me some pictures of the back of the larvae. If you see the orange ovaries it is a female. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie007 Posted August 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2021 On 8/1/2021 at 7:05 PM, Dynastes TItyus hunter said: Give me some pictures of the back of the larvae. If you see the orange ovaries it is a female. That last picture is of the larvae. I was shining an led flashlight on it as well. So I am correct then, the first two photos, the orange circled organ is ovaries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes TItyus hunter Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 Yes, they are ovaries that you can find on female stag beetle larvae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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