External morphology of the egg of the pink scavenger caterpillar, Pyroderces rileyi (Wallsingham) (Lepidoptera : Cosmopterigidae)

Abstract

The egg of the pink scavenger caterpillar, Pyroderces rileyi (Walsingham), (Lepidoptera : Cosmopterigidae) was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The egg is subcylindrical to fusiform (0.43 × 0.23 mm), truncate at the anterior end and rounded at the posterior. Surface sculpturing consists of longitudinal and transverse ridges of about equal prominence. The anterior end has the form of a circular depression, bearing a rosette of short, petal-like primary cells on a slight elevation at its center. The micropylar canals open into a pit at the center of the rosette. The rosette is surrounded by a row of long, wedge-shaped secondary cells that extend outward to the rim of the depression. The depression is outlined by a prominent ridge that joins the anterior ends of the longitudinal ridges. Aeropyles occur at the anterior end along this ridge, mostly at ridge intersections, and at ridge intersections on the posterior end. The openings of the anterior aeropyles are surrounded by heavy raised collars. Those of the posterior aeropyles may or may not have collars.