Mnesampela comarcha Guest, 1887

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

Mnesampela comarcha Guest (Figs 292–296)

Oviposition

4♀ Code no.: G38, G57, G201, G424.

Period of oviposition: 8–22 Apr.

Batch size: 45.3 ± 9.7 (n = 4)

Realised fecundity: 45.3 ± 9.7 (range): 30–72

Incubation time (days): 24–36 (on moistening)

Batch configuration and attachment: Attached, singly or small groups (Fig. 292).

Colour: Pale yellowish­green, becoming crimson then greyish­brown on maturity (Fig. 292).

Size (mm): (n=20) L=0.85 ± 0.01, W=0.70 ± 0.01, T=0.50 ± 0.01

Width/length: 0.82

No. of females: 3

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=5): L=1.50 ± 0.11, W=1.30 ± 0.08

Relative aeropylar opening size: 1.9

Micropyles: Indistinct (Figs 293 & 294)

No. of openings: 4

No. of cells in rosette: 6

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 4

Shape: Broad, bluntly ovoid; anterior pole truncated, polar profile sub­circular; dorsoventrally flattened (Figs 292, 293 & 295).

Characteristics: Egg marked all over by hexagonal cells. Cell walls generally moderately broad, elevated, floors convex (Figs 293 & 295) except concave in middle of top of egg (Figs 295 & 296); micropylar cell walls narrow, cells slightly recessed (Fig. 294). Aeropyles elevated, slightly domed, openings small (Fig. 293); present on all surfaces apart from middle of top of egg (Fig. 295). Chorion shallowly wrinkled, smoother on middle of top of egg (Fig. 296).