External morphology of eggs of Tipula (Lunatipula) decolor, Tipula (Lunatipula) dedecor, and Tipula (Acutipula) latifurca (Diptera : Tipulidae)

Abstract

External morphology of eggs of Tipula (Lunatipula) decolor Mannheims, Tipula (Lunatipula) dedecor Loew, and Tipula (Acutipula) latifurca Vermoolen were studied with both light and scanning electron microscopy. Mating pairs of these species were collected and maintained under laboratory conditions. Eggs were laid singly and were usually well separated from each other in cotton fiber batting. Eggs of these species are oval and black. The surface of the egg of T decolor was covered by chorionic protrusions of similar size, and there was a single micropylar opening at the anterior end of egg. The egg surface of T dedecor was covered with low protrusions with sharp tips, and there were numerous micropylar openings at the anterior end of egg. The egg surface of T latifurca was smooth and lacked chorionic protrusions, and the anterior end of egg has a disc-shaped structure formed by coiled terminal filament.