Larva: medium sized larvae, generally of bathophilus-type, but in all forms, except f. connori and f. ÔedwardiÕ, showing some degree of development of the lateral projections (less than 200 µm). Gular region slightly darkened, some degree of darkening of the frontoclypeus. Mentum with 4th laterals slightly reduced (type I-II), c2 teeth usually well developed, c1 relatively narrow (type (I)-IV). Basal segment of antenna about 3.0 - 3.7 times as long as wide.
Cytology: 4 pairs of chromosomes with the pseudothummi arm combination AE, BF, CD, G. Arm G with subterminal nucleolus, and generally unpaired at the distal end. There are two visible Balbiani rings (BRs), a large one near the nucleolus (presumably BR2), and a smaller one near the distal end (BR3). BR1 appears to have been split, as in situ hybridization of cloned spIa gene localizes to two places, one about the middle of the arm and the other very near the distal end, but no BR develops at either site. BR4 also does not develop, but cloned ssp160 hybridizes at the edge of the nucleolar region, between the nucleolus and BR2. There is also a nucleolus in arm F at about group 19. Polymorphic in all arms. All forms have the same basic chromosome complement, but different dominant sequences and different sets of polymorphic inversions:
f. connori: A2 (& A3)(males only), A5 (both sexes); B2 (& B1); C2; D1 & D2; E2; F1; G1.
f. oppositus: A1 & A2; B1 (& B2); C2 (& C1); D1 & D2; E2 (& occasional E1); F1; and G1: sequences in arms C and D may appear sex linked.
f. tyleri: A1 & A2; B1 (& B2); C3 & C1 (some C2); D4 (some D1 & D5); E1 (some E2); F1; G1 & G2 (often sex-linked)
f. whitei: A5 & A4 with some A1 & A2; B2 & B1; C1 & C2, but also other less frequent sequences; D1, D2 & some D3; E2 (& rare E1); F1 & some F2 or F3; G1 (& G2, G3); sequences in arms A (A4), C, D, F and G may appear sex linked in different populations. These populations with different sex determiner (MD) locations appear to show some degree of differentiation of sequences present.
f. 'edwardi': A4, inversion of B2 (puff very near 4 distinctive bands), inv. of C1, ausD1, E1, F1, possibly G3.
Occasional hybridization between eastern forms may lead to introgression of sequences between forms (e.g. E1 in forms oppositus and whitei).
The sequence oppA4 requires two inversion steps from the other sequences in this arm, but is a single inversion step from the New Zealand forA2. The same sequence as oppA4 is also common in New Zealand.
oppA1: 1a-e, 7-4, 12a-c, 3i-f, 9-8, 11-10, 2c-1f, 3e-2d, 13-19
oppA2: 1a-e, 7-4, 12a-c, 3i-f, 9-8, 2d-3e, 1f-2c, 10-11, 13-19
oppA3: 1a-e, 7-5, 11-10, 2c-1f, 3e-2d, 8-9, 3f-i, 12c-a, 4a-d, 13-19
oppA4: 1a-e, 11-10, 2c-1f, 3e-2d, 8-9, 3f-i, 12c-a, 4-7, 13-19 (from A2)
oppA5: 1a-e, 9-8, 2d-3e, 1f-2c, 10-11, 15-13, 7-4, 12a-c, 3i-f, 16-19 (complex from A1)
oppB1: A large puff is developed near the middle of the arm, with dark bands (groups 7-8) proximally.
oppB2: Large puff is towards the distal end of the arm, with the dark bands on the distal side (groups 8-7).
oppC1:
oppD1: 1-2, 16-13, 9a-e, 3d-a, 10d-12, 18-17,10c-a, 3e-8, 19-24 (from ausD1 by Inv 9-12 & 18-8)
oppD2: 1-2, 4-3e, 10a-c, 17-18, 12-10d, 3a-d, 9e-a, 13-16, 19-24
oppD3: 1-2, 16-15c, 8-3e, 10a-c, 17-18, 12-10d, 3a-d, 9e-a,13-15b, 19-24
oppD4: 1-2, 16-14h, 19c-a, 8-3e, 10a-c, 17-18, 12-10d, 3a-d, 9e-a, 13-14g, 19d-24
oppD5: 1-2, 18e-17, 10c-a, 3e-8, 19a-c, 14h-16, 18fg, 12-10d, 3a-d, 9e-a, 13-14g, 19d-24 (cf. D4)
or 1-2, 17f-a, 10c-a, 3e-8, 19a-c, 14h-16, 2i-g, 18a-g, 12-10d, 3a-d, 9e-a, 13-14g, 19d-24 (ie. int to tepperi D1)
oppD6: 1-2, 16-13, 9a-e, 3d-a, 10d-12, 18, 6-3e, 10a-c, 17, 7-8, 19-24
oppD7: 1-2, 16-15d, 18, 12-10d, 3a-d, 9e-a, 13-15c, 17,10c-a, 3e-8, 19-24
oppE1: 1-3e, 10b-3f, 10c-13 as halophilus, etc.
oppE2: 1-2d, 7g-10b, 3e-2e, 7f-3f, 10c-13
oppF1: 1-2a, 10-2b, 11-23
oppF2: 1-2a, 10-6c, 15g-11, 2b-6b, 15d-23
oppF3: 1-2a, 10-2c, 15c-11a, 2b, 15d-23
Click here for the polytene chromosomes
f. 'edwardi': Don Edward described larvae of C. oppositus from Lake Gwellup, near Perth, Western Australia. Larva is bathophilus type, with slightly dark - dark gula. Mentum with 4th laterals only slightly reduced (type I), c2 teeth relatively distinct, c1 tooth relatively narrow and tall (type I). Ventromental plates with 31 - 33 striae. Premandible with the usual two teeth, inner tooth less than twice the width of the outer (1.71). Mandible with third inner tooth almost separated (type II), with about 13 - 15 striae on the outer surface near the base. Antenna with basal segment about 4 - 4.1 times longer than wide; AR about 1.88; ratio of segments (µm): 136 : 33 : 11: 14 : 7 .
Basic drawn chromosome maps according to the Australian standard, with some photographs, provided by Martin (1969). The sequences of arms A, E and F according to the Keyl system are given by Wülker, Dévai & Dévai (1989). Nucleoli and location of C-bands studied by Lentzios & Stocker (1979) and Lentzios et al. (1980).
Pupa: f. whitei: Length about 7.3 mm (6.5 - 8.1) in female, about 7.2 mm (6.7 - 7.7) in male. About 73 (54 - 89) recurved hooks on second segment in females, about 66 (40 - 71) in males; about 185 (158 - 200) filaments on swim fin in female, about 164 (148 - 188) in males. Pupal spur normally with only one spine, but may be 2 in males and up to 4 in females, as is common in the species of the oppositus-group.