Capusa cuculloides R. Felder

Young, Catherine J., 2006, Descriptions of the eggs of some southern Australian Geometridae (Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 1287, pp. 1-294 : 1-294

Capusa cuculloides R. Felder (Figs 454–463)

Oviposition

3♀ Code no.: G83, G283, G473

Period of oviposition: 1 Jun.–5 Jul.

Batch size: 42.0 ± 6.6 range: 20–50 (n = 5)

Realised fecundity (range): 60–90

Note: Although McFarland (1988) reported a realised fecundity in one female of 500 eggs and also batch sizes of 10–300.

Incubation time (days): 18–24

Batch configuration and attachment: Attached to substrate by posterior pole, laid upright in large groups consisting of neat rows with every adjacent row off­set by one egg (Figs 454–455).

Colour: Olive green, shiny, with white mesh­like reticulation, becoming grey after 2 days, brown after 10 days (Figs 454–455).

Size (mm): (n=19) L =0.86 ± 0.01, W=0.76 ± 0.01, T=0.66 ± 0.01

Width/length: 0.90

No. of females: 3

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=5): L=2.1 ± 0.14, W=1.5 ± 0.11

Relative aeropylar opening size: 2.9

Micropyles: Distinct (Figs 454–457)

No. of openings: 4

No. of cells in rosette: 7

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 4

Shape: Broad, bluntly ovoid, anterior pole markedly truncated, much wider than posterior, polar profile sub­circular, dorso­ventrally flattened (Figs 454–457).

Characteristics: Egg marked all over by hexagonal cells with concave floors (Figs 454–456, 458–60), but cells only faintly discernible in posterior half of egg (Figs 458, 459 & 461). Moderately wide, elevated cell walls reticulated on anterior half of egg (Figs 454, 458–460). Aeropyles moderately elevated, domed, openings moderately large (Figs 457 & 460), present on anterior pole and in area adjacent to anterior pole (Fig. 457). Chorion deeply ridged, folded on anterior half of egg (Fig. 462), smoother on posterior half (Fig. 463). Micropylar area slightly recessed (Fig. 457).