Aphantes melanochorda Turner, 1919

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

Aphantes melanochorda Turner (Figs 392–398)

(type species)

Oviposition

1♀ Code no.: G57

Date of oviposition: 24 Apr.

Batch size: 10 (n = 1)

Realised fecundity: 10

Incubation time (days): 21

Batch configuration and attachment: Loose

Colour: Very pale yellow to green, becoming pale orange with orange flecks (Fig. 392).

Size (mm): (n=5) L =0.55 ± 0.01 W =0.50 ± 0.02, T =0.48 ± 0.00

Width/length: 0.92

No. of females: 1

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=5): L=6.3 ± 0.21, W=5.4 ± 0.29

Relative aeropylar opening size: 10.6

Micropyles: Distinct (Figs 393 & 394)

No. of openings: 4

No. of cells in rosette: 9

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 2

Shape: Very broad, bluntly ovoid, anterior pole truncated, slightly wider than posterior pole, polar profile circular, not dorso­ventrally flattened (Figs 392, 393 & 395).

Characteristics: Egg conspicuously marked with hexagonal cells with flat to slightly concave floors (Figs 393, 395 & 396), aeropyles on all egg surfaces (Figs 393–395). Cell walls moderately wide, moderately elevated, double­ridged; walls narrow, slightly elevated (Figs 393–397), single­ridged in micropylar area (Fig. 394). Aeropyles elevated, domed, openings extremely large (Figs 393–398). Chorion rough due to dense, irregular pitting (Fig. 397).