What morphological difference separates the male abdomen tip from the female tip?
Answer
The male has three prominent spines, the female is smooth and rounded
The most easily observable sexual dimorphism concerning the posterior end is the contrast in abdominal termination structures. Male *Anthidium manicatum* possess three conspicuous, pointed projections, or spines, at the tip of their abdomen, giving them an armed appearance. In stark contrast, the female abdomen terminates in a smooth, rounded tip, lacking these sharp projections entirely. This morphological division illustrates a functional split, where the male structure supports display and defense, while the female's morphology is geared toward reproductive provisioning, highlighted also by the presence of her specialized scopa.
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