Poecilasthena xylocyma Meyrick, 1891

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

Poecilasthena xylocyma Meyrick (Figs 678–684)

Oviposition

1♀ code nos.: G383

Oviposition date: 15 Oct.

Batch size: 40; (n = 1)

Realised fecundity: 40

Incubation time (days): 8

Batch configuration and attachment: Loosely attached, singly (Fig. 678).

Colour: Pale green, glittering, becoming grey on maturity (Fig. 678).

Size (mm) (n=10): L = 0.57 ± 0.00, W = 0.40 ± 0.00, T = 0.32 ± 0.00.

Width/length: 0.71

No. of females: 1

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=6): L = 0.74 ± 0.03, W = 0.60 ± 0.04.

Relative aeropylar opening size: 1.3

Micropyles: Distinct (Figs 679 & 680)

No. of openings: 5

No. of cells in rosette: 10

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 3

Shape: Narrow, elongated, bluntly ovoid, anterior pole truncated, dorso­ventrally flattened (Figs 678, 679, 681, 682).

Characteristics: Very soft chorion; egg marked on all surfaces by concave, hexagonal cells defined at junctions by broad rounded triangular humps; points of intersection of humps depressed giving egg a quilted appearance (Figs 679–683). Aeropyles small, unelevated, openings very small, present on narrow lateral sides (Fig. 683) and around anterior pole. Rosette cells slightly recessed; micropylar cell walls overlain by very narrow, shallow reticulum (Fig. 680). Chorion rough, shallowly wrinkled, sparsely blistered (Figs 683 & 684).