Abdomen (cont.)

Most insects lack appendages on the abdomen except at the posterior end. Examples of appendages at the posterior end may be an ovipositor (sometimes modified into a stinger in the Hymenoptera), caudal filaments (mayflies), claspers (mating structures of the male dragonfly) and cerci (cockroaches and earwigs). Abdominal appendages when present are usually a helpful character for identification.