Rhopalinae, Amyot & Serville, 1843

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 : 85

Rhopalinae : Rhopalini

Our study of the egg of Brachycarenus tigrinus essentially confirms previously published descriptions ( PUTSHKOVA 1957; PUTSHKOV 1962, 1986; WHEELER & HOEBEKE 1988; MOULET 1995). Only WHEELER & HOEBEKE (1988) studied the egg chorion using SEM. In keeping with our results, the chorionic surface was covered with raised, circular projections.

The eggs of several other Rhopalus species have been studied superficially (see Table 1). Only several more detailed descriptions of the eggs of Rhopalus parumpunctatus (Schilling, 1817) have been published (particularly MICHALK 1935; PUTSHKOVA 1955, 1957; PUTSHKOV 1962, 1986). Our results for R. maculatus roughly agree with general notes on eggs of Rhopalus Stål, 1872 . Using SEM study, we detected a completely smooth surface of the chorion. This is the first detailed study of the eggs of a Rhopalus species. For comparison, we can use only the descriptions of R. parumpunctatus by MICHALK (1935) and STROYAN (1954). We showed that the eggs of R. maculatus have not developed an attachment stalk originating from the chorion. A similarly shaped structure on some eggs originates from female adhesive secretion (see also below).

The eggs of two genera of Rhopalini , Brachycarenus and Rhopalus , differ in the following characters. Chorion smooth in Rhopalus , whereas that of Brachycarenus has a distinct structure formed by rounded tubercles. Micropylar processes are bent posteriorly in Rhopalus , but postero-dorsally in Brachycarenus ; longitudinal ribs, which are conspicuous in Rhopalus , are not developed in Brachycarenus .

We suggest that our descriptions of eggs of Brachycarenus and Rhopalus be considered typical for eggs of these genera.

References to descriptions of rhopaline eggs are given in Table 1. On the basis of the literature and our studies, eggs of the Rhopalini can be characterized as follows: oval to beanshaped. Chorion surface of various patterns: completely smooth ( Rhopalus , probably Corizus ) to hexagonal ( Liorhyssus ), or with rounded low tubercles ( Brachycarenus ). Pseudoperculum oval in outline, with poorly defined border, its structure identical with surrounding chorion. Two micropylar processes bent roughly posteriad, of various shape, short, dilated basally ( Brachycarenus ), globular ( Rhopalus ), or with slender base and globose apex ( Liorhyssus ). The attachment structure in leglet form was described in Brachycarenus tigrinus , Liorhyssus hyalinus (Fabricius, 1794) ( PUTSHKOVA 1957, ATALAY 1978) and Rhopalus maculatus ; it was not mentioned in Corizus hyoscyami (Linnaeus, 1758) or species of the subgenus Rhopalus s. str. ( PUTSHKOVA 1957).