There are nine visible segments to the abdomen (I-IX, the last representing an amalgamation of the three terminal segments) each bearing a dorsal tergite and all but the last, a ventral sternite. These are variously armed with tubercles, points, teeth, spines, spinules and shagreen. Tubercles are rounded, teeth and points are conical, spines and spinules are elongate. Teeth are larger than points; spines are larger than spinules. These terms are relative: a structure the size of a spine on a small exuviae would be called a spinule on a larger one. Shagreen is composed of minute points or spinules; it may be arranged in short rows (group shagreen), and these may be crescentically curved (scale shagreen).

Each tergite is divided transversely for the sake of description into four bands, anterior, median, posterior and apical. The conjunctives (intersegmental membranes) may also be armed. The apical band of segment II is often in the form of a pad, band or row of strong hooks (hook row II) by which the pupa is attached to the silk tube in which it lies, using it as a pivot for the undulations it performs to drive water through the tube to supply its respiratory needs. Similar bands or rows of hooks occasionally occur on other segments. Structurally the apical band may belong intersegmentally as it can often be folded under the posterior edge of the tergite, in which case its armament invariably opposes that of the posterior band and it is possible that they can be used to grip the tube so as to release the hooks of the hook row prior to changing position or leaving the tube for eclosion.

In Glyptotendipes some of the tergites possess a median anterior raised area bounded by strong teeth behind; these are the epaulettes.

Each tergite normally bears five pairs of setae (D1-D5), which usually form an arc from D1 (innermost anterior seta) to D5 (innermost posterior seta); however, they are frequently displaced and then may be difficult to identify in terms of seta number (in the key to British pupal exuviae (Langton, 1984a) the setae are numbered differently due to a misinterpretation of previous published descriptions). In this key they are often used as landmarks on the tergites rather than characters in their own right. However, their disposition and relative lengths can be useful distinguishing characters and they have been included on the figures to provide additional confirmatory evidence for an identification.

In the key, unless otherwise stated, the dorsal aspect is to be assumed. Only occasionally are ventral characters used and only one is referred to by name: the vortex. This is the enlarged pes spurius A of segment IV, a whorl of spinules situated postero-ventrally.

The pedes spurii B are bulbous or conical lateral projections of segment II and occasionally I and III. They are believed to wedge the pupa in its tube, but how they perform this function is obscure.

On segment VIII the postero-lateral corners are often armed with points or teeth and these may form a contiguous comb, which may surmount a cuticular projection or spur. They are used to push the pupa along its tube. Some stagnant water species are very active, frequently turning around to reverse the water flow.

The pleura of segments I-VIII bear lateral setae, which may be filamentous and flattened, the lateral taeniae. The anal lobes, which are flattened extensions of the anal segment, may have a fringe of taeniae and these with the lateral taeniae of the preceding segments enable the pupa to drive the respiratory stream of water through its tube.

Instead of, or in addition to the fringe, the anal lobes may have one or more setae, the anal macrosetae. These are frequently hooked at their tips and may serve to grip the tube. Occasionally they are reduced to spines, hair-like setae or stout teeth.

The genital sheaths are swellings beneath the anal segment which may extend well beyond the posterior margin of the anal lobes.