Descriptions of the eggs of some southern Australian Geometridae (Lepidoptera)
Author
Young, Catherine J.
text
Zootaxa
2006
2006-08-14
1287
1
294
journal article
11755334
7778314F-E23A-4947-876A-9610E4C959A7
Dirce lunaris
Meyrick
(Figs 16–21)
(
type
species)
Oviposition
10♀
code nos.: G1057, G115, G117, G30811, G325.
Oviposition period: 2–22 Dec.
Batch size: 22.6 ± 4.3 range: 4–60 (n = 19)
Mean fecundity: 42.9 ± 8.4 (range: 4–90)
Incubation time (days) (n=14): 11.1 ± 0.6
Batch configuration and attachment
: Loose.
Colour:
Very pale green, becoming darker at poles, then pink with darker streaks, transparent on maturity (Fig. 16).
Size (mm):
(n=15) L = 0.81 ± 0.01, W = 0.60 ± 0.00, T = 0.50 ± 0.01
Width/length: 0.75
No. of females: 3
Aeropylar opening size (m)
(n=4): L = 0.31 ± 0.05, W = 0.27 ± 0.02.
Relative aeropylar opening size: 0.4
Micropyles
: Distinct (Figs 17 & 18)
No. of openings: 4
No. of cells in rosette: 5
No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 4
Shape:
Moderately broad, bluntly ovoid, truncated anterior pole, dorsoventrally flattened; anterior pole slightly angled to horizontal axis (Figs 16, 17 & 19).
Characteristics
: Egg marked on all surfaces by hexagonal, flat cells, cell form on wider top side, barely discernible (Figs 19–21), micropylar cell walls narrow, shallowly reticulated (Figs 17 & 18). Aeropyles very inconspicuous, very small, openings extremely small, present on all surfaces (Fig. 21). Rosette, secondary cells recessed (Figs 17 & 18). Chorion smooth, undulating (Fig. 21).