Question

Which of the following features is used to identify a male cockroach from a female cockroach?

• A. Presence of anal cerci
• B. Presence of a boat-shaped sternum on the 9th abdominal segment
• C. Presence of caudal styles
• D. Forewings with darker tegmina

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Presence of caudal styles

The correct option is C.

Explanation of correct option:

1. Females lack a pair of short, thread-like anal styles that males have.
2. The male cockroach's anal/caudal styles emerge from the 9th abdominal segment.

Explanation of incorrect options:

Option A:

1. A joint filamentous anal cerci is present in both male and female cockroaches.
2. The abdomen of the female cockroach is boat-shaped and the abdomen of the male cockroach is slim.

Option B:

1. Male and female cockroaches have a boat-shaped sternum on the seventh abdominal segment.

Option D:

1. Tegmina is another name for the forewings having a deeper color which is present in both males and females.
2. Tegmina are used to protect the hind wings when they are resting.

Final answer: Male cockroaches can be differentiated from female cockroaches by the presence of caudal styles.