Nisista notodontaria Walker

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

Nisista notodontaria Walker (Figs 406–414)

(type species)

Oviposition

4♀ Code nos.: G275, G276, G419, G421.

Period of oviposition: 3 Apr.–24 May.

Batch size: 26.6 ± 6.3, (range): 4–85 (n = 13)

Realised fecundity: 30–159

Note: McFarland (1988) reported a realised fecundity of 60 eggs from one female

Incubation time (days): 23–62 (on moistening).

Batch configuration and attachment: Moderately securely attached, singly (Fig. 406).

Colour: Pale yellowish­green, shiny, opalescent becoming orange with red streaks then greyish­brown on maturity (Fig. 406).

Size (mm): (n=20) L=0.93 ± 0.01, W=0.65 ± 0.01, T=0.53 ± 0.01

Width/length: 0.70

No. of females: 4

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=5): L=2.35 ± 0.18, W=2.11 ± 0.11

Relative aeropylar opening size: 2.5

Micropyles: Indistinct (Figs 407 & 408)

No. of openings: obscure

No. of cells in rosette: 5

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 4

Shape: Narrow, elongated, bluntly ovoid; anterior pole truncated, polar profile elliptical; dorso­ventrally flattened; anterior pole slightly angled to micropylar axis (Figs 406, 407, 409 & 410).

Characteristics: Egg marked all over by flat, hexagonal cells (Figs 409–413). Cell walls moderately broad, elevated (Figs 411–413); rosette cells slightly recessed (Fig. 408). Aeropyles prominent, elevated, with moderately large domes, openings moderately small; present only around anterior pole (Figs 407, 412 & 414). Chorion generally smooth, but finely, sparsely wrinkled (Figs 413 & 414).