Hypanartia paullus (Fabricius, 1793)

Llorente-Bousquets, Jorge, Nieves-Uribe, Sandra & Flores-Gallardo, Adrián, 2023, Exochorion in the tribe Nymphalini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): the genus Hypanartia Hübner, [1821] and comparison with related genera, Zootaxa 5330 (2), pp. 151-200 : 162

Hypanartia paullus ( Plates 4 , 5 ) (n=10).

The chorion is 784 µm long and 869 wide; its length/width ratio is 0.9 and the width/length ratio is 1.1. The largest amplitude is observed in the equatorial third of the chorion. The base of the chorion has a semi-convex shape and exhibits a subtle polygonal grid pattern, while the apex is smooth and convex. The egg is semi-ellipsoidal in shape and 2.4 times wider at the base than at the apex ( Plates 4 , 5 , Figs. A). The chorion has 12 ridges, each made up of colonnades with beams that extend from the apical region to the base ( Plate 4 , Fig. A-i, Plate 5 , Fig. A). The columns are most conspicuous in the apical quarter of the chorion ( Plate 4 , Fig. A-i, Plate 5 , Fig. A). There are 8–10 columns in the most apical section of the ridge; they protrude from the surface of the chorion and gradually disappear by the fifth basal section, leaving only the beams with a slight zig-zag pattern visible ( Plate 4 , Fig. A-iii, Plate 5 , Fig. A). The plinths of the columns are slightly marked in the spaces between ridges, giving the impression of ‘ribs’ ( Plate 4 , Figs A, B-iv), particularly in the apical region ( Plate 5 , Fig. A). The apical columns have a robust shaft, while the intercolumnar wall appears somewhat flimsy and delicate ( Plate 4 , Fig. A-v, Plate 5 , Fig. B). A slight, rough texture is observed between the ridges, with slight striations on the plinths and the rail ( Plate 5 , Fig. B). The rail is thick and conspicuous ( Plate 5 , Fig. B). The column capitals are joined by a thick, nearly straight beam with a slight depression where the 62–65 aeropyles are located ( Plate 5 , Fig. B). Starting from the fifth basal, there are usually five to eight ribs between the ridges, along with a rough texture at the base ( Plate 4 , Fig. A-vi, Plate 5 , Figs. A and C). When viewed from the apex, the “ribs” between the ridges become more visible ( Plate 4 , Fig. B-iv, Plate 5 , Fig. D), and slight projections of the ridges can be seen towards the transition zone ( Plate 4 , Fig. B-viii, Plate 5 , Fig. D). However, no ribs join the ridges at their most apical section ( Plate 4 , Fig. B, Plate 5 , Fig. D). The transition zone, perimicropylar, and micropylar regions all have a subtle rough texture ( Plate 5 , Figs. D-F). The perimicropylar region features an irregular wreath comprising 10 leaves. Nine of them can be seen only as reliefs and have four to seven sides with curved vertices, forming an incomplete semi-ring ( Plate 5 , Fig. E). It has a leaf close to the rosette, with walls that have the same thickness as the petals ( Plate 5 , Fig. E). The micropylar rosette has seven petals with curved edges that are slightly anchored to the semi-circular central polygon. At least one micropylar opening is visible ( Plate 5 , Fig. F). The rosette and the central polygon are in the same visual plane. Color N 00 A 50 M 20.

Figures

PLATE 4. Chorion of Hypanartia paullus. A. Lateral view; B. Apical view. i=ridge in colonnade; ii=apical columns; iii=twist a zig-zag; iv=vestigial ‘ribs’; v=intercolumnar wall; vi=basal ribs; vii=projections of the ridges towards the transition zone.

PLATE 5. Photographs of the chorion of Hypanartia paullus under the SEM. A Lateral view.; B. Detail of the colonnades; C. Basal region; D. Apical view; E. Perimicropylar region; F. Micropyle.