Ectropis excursaria Guenée

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

Ectropis excursaria Guenée (Figs 493–500)

Oviposition

6♀ code nos.: G12, G41, G50, G62, G287, G437

Oviposition period: 26 Mar.–12 Oct.

Batch size: 47.2 ± 8.8 range: 6–100 (n = 11)

Mean realised fecundity: 86.5 ± 24.4 (range): 30–173

Incubation time (days): 18–29

Batch configuration and attachment: Loosely attached, singly or large groups (Figs 493–495)); sometimes inserted into folds of paper. In nature, poked into narrow crevices such as in bark ( McFarland 1988).

Colour: Light yellowish­green, becoming rust­brown starting at anterior pole, greyish brown on maturity (Figs 493 & 494).

Size (mm): (n=10) L =0.73 ± 0.01, W =0.44 ± 0.01, T = 0.40 ± 0.01

Width/length: 0.60

No. of females: 1

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=5): L=1.1 ± 0.10.

Relative aeropylar opening size: 1.4

Micropyles: Distinct (Figs 496 & 497)

No. of openings: 4

No. of cells in rosette: 6

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 4

Shape: Very narrow, elongated, bluntly ovoid, anterior pole truncated; flattened dorsoventrally (Figs 493–496, 498).

Characteristics: Chorion soft. Egg distinctly marked on all surfaces by concave quadrate cells with moderately broad, rounded walls, arranged in longitudinal rows (Figs 495, 496 & 498). Aeropyles elevated, domed, openings very small (Fig. 499), present on all surfaces apart from middle of top of egg (Figs 496 & 498). Primary, secondary cells in micropylar area recessed (Fig. 497). Chorion heavily blistered, appearing granular (Figs 499 & 500).