Mictodoca toxeuta Meyrick, 1892

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

Mictodoca toxeuta Meyrick (Figs 229–234)

(type species)

Oviposition

2♀ Code no.: G65, G347

Period of oviposition: 17 Mar.–15 May

Batch size: 18.6 ± 3.7 (n = 5)

Realised fecundity (range): 30–63

Incubation time (days): 36

Batch configuration and attachment: Attached, upright, singly or in clusters (Figs

229 & 230).

Colour: Light green, shiny opalescent, becoming shiny coppery brown (Figs 229 & 230).

Size (mm): (n=15) L =0.67 ± 0.02, W =0.63 ± 0.02, T=0.55 ± 0.01

Width/length: 0.94

No. of females: 2

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=7): L=2.95 ± 0.24, W=2.03 ± 0.14

Relative aeropylar opening size: 4.6

Micropyles: Indistinct (Figs 231 & 232)

No. of openings: obscure

No. of cells in rosette: 12

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 5

Shape: Broad, sub­globular, anterior pole markedly truncated, slightly wider than posterior pole, polar profile circular (Figs 231 & 233).

Characteristics: Egg unmarked apart from several rows of cells and aeropyles adjacent to anterior pole (Figs 229, 230, 231 & 233). Cells quadrilateral; longitudinal walls moderately wide, elevated; cross­walls, narrower, less elevated; concave floors (Figs 231, 233 & 234). Aeropyles inconspicuous, openings moderately large (Figs 231 & 234). Chorion generally smooth, pitted on and near anterior pole (Figs 231–234). Only rosette cells marked in micropylar area apart from faint outlines of hexagonal cells (Figs 231 & 232).