EGG MORPHOLOGY OF TWELVE SPECIES OF MELOLONTHINAE AND RUTELINAE (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE)

摘要

This study describes the morphometrics and chorion microsculpturing of the eggs of 12 species of Melolonthinae and Rutelinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) belonging to seven genera. Egg size, shape, and color vary among species, and the chorion microsculpturing exhibits variation among and within genera. The length/width ratio was comparatively higher in Lepidiota mansueta Burmeister and Maladera insanabilis (Brenske) (Melolonthinae) while lowest in species of Anomala Samouelle (Rutelinae). Shape was elliptical to cylindrical in Melolonthinae and spherical in Rutelinae. Diagnostic characters with respect to chorion microsculpturing analyzed at the subfamily and species levels revealed variation in patterns exhibiting reticulations in Melolonthinae to projections/protuberances in Rutelinae, respectively. Among melolonthines, the reticulations differed in shape and relief. In rutelines, consistency in protuberances was observed within the genera but varied among genera. These variations in microsculpturing might enable identification of taxa in their egg stage to subfamily, generic, and/or species levels.