Hypanartia trimaculata autumna

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 : 174

Hypanartia trimaculata autumna ( Plates 14 , 15 ) (n=10).

The chorion is 871 µm long and 846 µm wide; the length/width ratio is 1.02 and the width/length ratio is 0.97. The greatest width is from the equator to the basal one-fourth, and the base is convex and 2.7 times broader than the semi-flattened apex. The egg is semi-spherical ( Plates 14 , 15 , Figs. A). It has 11 to 12 ridges comprising colonnades with beams that run from the edge of the apical region to the base ( Plate 14 , Fig. A-i, Plate 15 , Fig. A). The columns project above the surface of the chorion in the apical third, barely protruding on the rest of the egg ( Plate 14 , Fig. A-ii, Plate 15 , Fig. A). Thirteen to 18 conspicuous columns are present at the apical one-third of each ridge; after this zone, the columns are reduced and fused, so that only the beam can be distinguished at the ridge ( Plate 14 , Fig. A-iii, Plate 15 , Fig. A). A slightly rough texture is observed between the ridges ( Plate 15 , Fig. B), with some vestigial ‘ribs’ between them, forming a slight relief ( Plate 14 , Fig. A-iv). The rail is thick and conspicuous in the ridges, mostly in its apical portion ( Plate 15 , Fig. B), while only the plinths of the most apical columns are slightly marked in the spaces between the ribs ( Plate 15 , Fig. B). Capitals are joined by a thick, nearly straight beam, without depressions or abrupt changes in the parts where the aeropyles are situated ( Plate 15 , Fig. B), the latter numbering 57 to 59 along the ridge ( Plate 15 , Fig. A). In the apical third, the aeropyles are most conspicuous, and towards the basal region, they reduce their diameter. A thick wall covers each colonnade at the apical portion, so the columns are barely distinguishable ( Plate 14 , Fig. A-v, Plate 15 , Fig. B). The columns from the equator to the base are completely reduced ( Plates 14 , 15 , Figs. A), and only the beam is visible ( Plate 15 , Figs. A, C). From the basal eighth, four to seven ribs are recorded between the ridges ( Plate 14 , Fig. A-vi, Plate 15 , Fig. C); a rough to slightly corrugated texture remains at the base ( Plate 15 , Fig. C). In the apical view, no ribs can be distinguished, while the ridges are barely projected in the transition zone ( Plate 14 , Fig. B-vii, Plate 15 Fig. D); in their most apical portion there are no ribs that join the ridges ( Plate 14 , Fig. B, Plate 15 , Fig. D). The most apical part of the ridge lacks aeropyles ( Plate 15 , Fig. D). The transition zone is smooth, while the perimicropylar and micropylar regions have a barely visible rough texture ( Plate 15 , Figs. D-F). The perimicropylar region presents an irregular wreath of 15 leaves from four to seven sides, 11 of them forming a complete semi-ring, while the others form a second incomplete semi-ring ( Plate 15 , Fig. E). The walls of the leaves are fragile, so they can be broken, and a relief is left in their place ( Plate 15 , Figs. E, F). The micropylar rosette has five pentagonal or hexagonal petals with straight sides well anchored to the central polygon and with slightly curved vertices; the walls of the petals are fragile, so they may detach and leave a slight relief in their place ( Plate 15 , Fig. F). At least one micropylar opening is observed that coincides with one vertex of the central polygon, which is quadrangular and at the same visual level as the petals ( Plate 15 , Fig. F). Both the rosette petals and the wreath leaves have the same thickness on their walls. Color N 00 A 30 M 00.

Figures

PLATE 14. Chorion of Hypanartia trimaculata autumn. A. Lateral view; B. Apical view. i=ridges in colonnade; ii= apical columns overhanging the surface; iii=reduced ridges (beam only); iv=vestigial ’ribs’; v=intercolumnar spacing; vi=basal ribs; vii= projections of the ridges in the transition zone.

PLATE 15. Photographs of the chorion of Hypanartia trimaculata autumn under the SEM. A Lateral view.; B. Detail of the colonnades; C. Basal region; D. Apical view; E. Perimicropylar region; F. Micropyle.