Hemitheinae, Bruand, 1846

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

Comment on Hemitheinae

The eggs of all the species in the three genera examined are very similar. All are the typical pill­box shape with slightly rounded edges apart from M. centrophylla that has distinctly planar sides. The eggs of Euloxia fugitivaria are somewhat different from the rest because of the smooth, unsculptured appearance of the chorion. The eggs of M. centrophylla resemble most those of Chlorocoma because of the netted appearance of the cell reticulation and the rough texture of the chorion on the narrow lateral sides.

The eggs of the two hemitheines described by Salkeld (1983), Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria Guenée and Hethemia pistasciaria Guenée are also extremely similar to the Australian species in both shape and fine morphological features. The SEM micrograph of the egg of the Australian hemitheine ‘ Prasinocyma ’ rhodocosma Meyrick ( Common 1990) shows planar sides and a rather smooth chorion not unlike that of E. fugitivaria . Similarly the illustration of the eggs of ‘ Prasinocyma ’ semicrocea Walker and ‘ P. ’ ocyptera Meyrick ( McFarland 1988) show a similar form.