Rhopalus (Aeschyntelus) maculatus (Fieber, 1837)

Vilímová, Jitka & Rohanová, Markéta, 2010, The external morphology of eggs of three Rhopalidae species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) with a review of the eggs of this family, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 50 (1), pp. 75-95 : 81

Rhopalus (Aeschyntelus) maculatus (Fieber, 1837)

( Figs.17–22 , Table 3)

Egg is oblong, bean-shaped. Dorsal side is slightly convex, relatively wide, without attachment stalk. Lateral sides are slightly sunken longitudinally. Ventral side is narrower than dorsal, narrowing towards middle, with two dark longitudinal, strongly sclerotized ribs at narrowest part stiffening egg surface.

In hatching, the larva forces off the oval pseudoperculum at anterior egg pole. Pseudoperculum is imperceptible without any border with surrounding chorion.

Chorion is glossy, smooth, including pseudoperculum.

Two micropylar processes are in longitudinal axis, one is located on pseudoperculum close to the anterior pole of egg, the other on dorsal side close to pseudoperculum and anterior pole. Micropyle is shaped as simple bent conical channel slightly narrowing toward its apex, with single apical opening directed dorsoposteriad or ventroposteriad. Entire micropylar process is bent posteriorly and pressed to chorion, thus appearing as a small rounded tubercle.

Egg is goldish after oviposition, becoming yellow-brown to brown, due to embryo showing through.

Measurements (in mm): length 1.01 (0.97–1.07), width 0.50 (0.48–0.53).

Figures

Figs. 17–22. Eggs of Rhopalus (Aeschyntelus) maculatus (Fieber, 1837). 17 – whole egg, ventral view; 18 – whole egg, lateral view; 19 – empty egg with separated pseudoperculum, ventral view; 20 – anterior pole of egg with two micropylar processes, lateral view; 21 – detail of micropylar process, most exposed view; 22 – detail of part of dorsal egg surface where is egg attached to surface. Scale = 100 μm for Figs. 17–20; 10 μm for Figs. 21–22. Letterings: m1, m2 – micropylar processes; p – pseudoperculum.