I’m still going male. Your gonna need to confirm it with a molt, but there are a few things you can look at on P metallica.
The positioning and shape of the epigynal plate. In male metallica you'll find that the plate is much more trapezoidal in shape, opposed to the more triangular shape of a female.
The booklungs and epigynal plate will be positioned much closer to the sternum in female specimens. In this case you can see that there is a large triangular region separating the sternum from the epigynal plate.
And finally, the epigynal plate is covered in epiandrous fusillae, apart from a "bald spot" in the lower center of the plate. This only ever occurs in male metallicas.
Also, if you look at the folio pattern. Males the stripe will be more faded/diffused where the females it’s much cleaner and the black is broken up but isn’t faded out.
I’m still going male. Your gonna need to confirm it with a molt, but there are a few things you can look at on P metallica.
The positioning and shape of the epigynal plate. In male metallica you'll find that the plate is much more trapezoidal in shape, opposed to the more triangular shape of a female.
The booklungs and epigynal plate will be positioned much closer to the sternum in female specimens. In this case you can see that there is a large triangular region separating the sternum from the epigynal plate.
And finally, the epigynal plate is covered in epiandrous fusillae, apart from a "bald spot" in the lower center of the plate. This only ever occurs in male metallicas.
Also, if you look at the folio pattern. Males the stripe will be more faded/diffused where the females it’s much cleaner and the black is broken up but isn’t faded out.
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