Monoctenia falernaria Guenée, 1857

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

Monoctenia falernaria Guenée (Figs 637–644)

(type species)

Oviposition 1♀ code nos.: G366.

Oviposition period: May

Batch size: 30; (n = 1)

Realised fecundity: 30

Incubation time (days): 25

Note: McFarland (1973) reported an incubation period of 14 days.

Batch configuration and attachment: Attached, singly, small groups (Fig. 637).

Colour: Pale milky brown, pearly, then transparent on maturity (Fig. 637).

Size (mm): (n=10) L = 1.83 ± 0.01, W = 1.34 ± 0.01, T = 1.03 ± 0.02

Note: McFarland (1973, 1988) noted extreme variation in size and shape of the eggs from this species in eggs from the same clutch and in eggs from different females.

Width/length: 0.73

No. of females: 1

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=6): L = 1.16 ± 0.04, W = 0.94 ± 0.04

Relative aeropylar opening size: 0.7

Micropyles: Distinct (Figs 638 & 639)

No. of openings: 1

No. of cells in rosette: 10

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 3

Shape: Moderately narrow, elliptical, sub­cuboidal, dorso­ventrally flattened (Figs 637, 638, 640 & 641).

Characteristics: Egg marked on all surfaces by round, concave cells with broad walls on wide lateral side (Figs 638, 640 & 641), cells deeper on wider lateral side (Fig. 642); on narrow lateral sides and anterior pole walls narrower, recessed, cells flat (Figs 638 & 641). Aeropyles inconspicuous, openings extremely small (Fig. 643), present only on narrow lateral sides. Micropylar cells slightly recessed (Fig. 639). Micropyles slightly off­centred (Fig. 638). Chorion undulating, moderately wrinkled (Figs 643 & 644).