THE EGGS OF STICK INSECTS,SIPYLOIDEA SIPYLUS(WESTWOOD) ANDORXINES MACKLOTTIDE HAAN (PHASMATODEA, HETERONEMIIDAE): A SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopy, which has proven of great value for ootaxonomy in many insect orders has already been used to study Phasmatodea. We report here the description of the eggs of two Necrosciinae species, the amphigon, O. macklotti and the obligatory parthenogen, S. sipylus. In the latter, chorion sculpturing is characterized by a net of ridges covered by rows of conical processes and hairy spines which define irregular polygonal areas covered by short conical reliefs of varying heights. Such sculpturing is also found on the operculum. The chorionic pattern is common to the entire egg capsule in O. macklotti. An irregular net of 5 prominent ridges defines uneven areas covered by low mamelons. Evenly distributed spiny processes are found on ridges as well as in the intervening areas. Several features characterize the two species, but in both, the micropylar plate is lance-shaped, the micropylar cup is protected by a projecting blade, and the three-layered exochorion shows a spongy-columnar stratu...