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Incubation and Hatching
The following description of incubation and hatching in R. lineolaris applies equally to R. obscura. Colours described for the former species are present in the latter, although somewhat masked by a general green coloration in the early stages.
After three days the eggs become slightly darker in colour, and after four to five days two very faint red eyespots, which darken considerably during the next two days, become visible at the cephalic end. On the sixth day the very indefinite outlines of the rostrum and antennae are apparent antero-ventrally, whilst antipodally light orange patches mark the position of the developing scent-gland apertures on the abdominal dorsum. From this time until hatching commences on about the eighth day the outlines of the embryo within the chorion
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Fig. 1 Rhopalimorpha obscura in copula. (× 7)
Fig. 2 R. lineolaris. Second mstar nymphs on seeds of Carex 10
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become increasingly plain, the eyes, rostrum, antennae, legs, abdominal segments and scent-gland apertures being apparent.
At emergence of the nymph, longitudinal splitting of the chorion occurs. This starts at the cephalic end of the egg and exposes the strongly pulsating vertex, after which the split is extended downwards and the antennae and rostrum appear. These become free before the rest of the head emerges. The fore-legs, followed by the remaining legs, then emerge and after a few minutes these and the antennae start to move actively. Meanwhile, splitting of the chorion has continued to the caudal end and the nymph is left sitting vertically within the split chorion, the legs and antennae waving about in an attempt to free the body. This stage usually continues for about ten minutes before the nymph is able to struggle free. The entire process takes from 25–30 minutes, but may be considerably extended if the rather elastic chorion prevents the complete emergence of the nymph.