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What is the thing that looks like a mouth at the end of the abdomen of the "crane fly" or "mosquito eater?"
Question Date: 2001-05-08
Answer 1:

The things that open and close and look a bit like a mouth at the end of the abdomen of the fly are probably "claspers". Only male insects have these. Claspers are used for grabbing the female during mating. The female has a long barb like a stinger at the end of her abdomen. This is called an "ovipositor" and is used to help her lay eggs in the soil or on surfaces like leaves.



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