Capusa Walker, 1857

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

Capusa Walker (Fgis 454–474)

This genus is widely distributed in eucalypt forests with records for cuculloides ranging from southern Queensland to the Mt Lofty ranges in South Australia ( McFarland 1988). The eggs of two of the six species are illustrated. The size of the eggs is small for the size of both adults. The eggs of this genus are distinctive because they are laid upright with the micropylar axis at right angles to the substrate. Other species described in this study that share this character are the nacophorines Mictodoca toxeuta Meyrick and Palleopa innotata Walker and the oenochromine sensu stricto Arhodia lasiocamparia Guenée. Alsophila Hübner (Alsophilinae) , a few Bistonini and Ourapteryx Leach ( Ourapterygini : E nnominae) ( Forbes 1948) ( Salkeld 1983) and also the sterrhines Idaea tacturata Walker and Scopula aemulata Hulst ( Peterson 1968) have upright eggs. Four species in the nacophorine genus Phaeoura Hulst ( Comstock 1959a; Peterson 1968) and the archiearine Archiearis notha Hübner ( Carter & Hargreaves 1986) were also found to have upright eggs. This character appears to be variable as both flat and upright eggs may occur in the same genus e.g. Archiearis , Idaea Treitschke and Biston Leach ( Scoble 1995) . Upright eggs are uncommon in geometrids and appear to be correlated with being glued together ( Scoble 1995). They also appear to be associated with relatively small eggs, large clutches, high fecundity, highly synchronous hatching and pronounced first instar dispersal, which are characteristics of Capusa and Palleopa Walker and to a lesser extent Arhodia Guenée [see descriptions below and also McFarland (1988)]. In both Capusa species the cells are hexagonal with concave floors and moderately wide, elevated walls. Cell form is much more conspicuous on and adjacent to the anterior pole where the cell walls are reticulated and the chorion heavily ridged and folded. This end of the egg is the surface exposed to the environment. The eggs of these two Capusa species are almost indistinguishable but can be separated by the presence of double­ridged cell walls present in senilis and ovipositional seasonal differences. Cuculloides is active in winter whereas senilis is spring flying. Senilis eggs are also relatively smaller. Capusa eggs are very similar to those of Palleopa Walker (described below).