Ks. Shields et Rj. Pupedis, MORPHOLOGY AND SURFACE-STRUCTURE OF MANTISPA-SAYI (NEUROPTERA, MANTISPIDAE) EGGS, Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 90(6), 1997, pp. 810-813
Mantispa sayi Banks, like other members of the Mantispinae, oviposits
small eggs on short stalks. The egg morphology indicates a conservativ
e use of maternal resources. The chorion is a thin and flexible shell
overlain by an Open meshlike pattern of ridges. Openings into the egg
appear to be restricted to the single micropylar region. where 8-14 po
re-like features can be seen on the scalloped edges of the micropylar
prominence. Morphological differences in the surface structure of the
eggs of the New World species M. sayi and M. interrupta Say, and the S
outh African species M. capeneri (Handschin) are subtle.