Psilosticha mactaria Guenée, 1857

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

Psilosticha mactaria Guenée (Figs 523–528)

(type species)

Oviposition

11♀ code nos.: G10, G14, G21, G28, G29, G40, G52, G98, G99, G143, G144.

Oviposition period: 26 Feb.–4 Oct.

Batch size: 17.2 ± 3.2 range: 3–42; (n = 17)

Realised fecundity: 26.5 ± 6.0 (range): 4–64

Incubation time (days) (n=11): 19.5 ± 1.5

Batch configuration and attachment: Attached, singly or in pairs (Fig. 523).

Colour: Milky olive, becoming shiny, coppery brown then transparent on maturity (Fig. 523).

Size (mm): (n=10) L = 0.64 ± 0.00, W = 0.43 ± 0.00, T = 0.35 ± 0.00

Width/length: 0.67

No. of females: 1

Aeropylar opening size (m) (n=7): L = 0.68 ± 0.06, W = 0.43 ± 0.02.

Relative aeropylar opening size: 1.2

Micropyles: Distinct (Figs 524 & 525)

No. of openings: 1

No. of cells in rosette: 5

No. of rows of cells in micropylar area: 2

Shape: Narrow, elongated, sub­elliptical, dorso­ventrally flattened (Figs 523, 524 & 526).

Characteristics: Soft chorion. Egg distinctly marked on all surfaces by hexagonal, concave cells with moderately broad, elevated walls, defined by aeropyles (Figs 523–528), double­ridged (Fig. 528), micropylar cells overlain by a fine reticulum (Fig. 525). Aeropyles elevated, prominently domed, openings very small (Figs 525 & 528), present on all surfaces apart from wider, lateral side (Fig. 527). Rosette cells recessed (Fig. 525). Chorion generally smooth (Figs 527 & 528).