The best way to key out an Osage is to look at the background color between the crossbands. Northerns and Southerns usually have some type of small markings or tick marks in the area between the crossbands. Osage will never have these markings and are always clear between the crossbands. I have captured, marked and released hundreds of them and can verify that.

The other identifying trait of the Osage is the prominent white border along the dark edges of the crossbands. Trans-Pecos will sometimes have these, but these white borders are never conspicuous on the Southerns or Northerns. Also, Southerns always have a pink or orange hue to their coloration that is never seen in the Osage, which have a much more gray-brown overall coloration except in large, older males. The dorsal section of the cross-bands on the Broad-banded would be much wider than on these young, even with intergrades. The young in question are showing all of the characteristic traits of the Osage. Below are a few photos of phaeogaster I have taken over the years in Northeast Kansas.

Kelly

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