Egg Stage

Here you see a close-up of two Monarch butterfly eggs on a small scrap of milkweed leaf. It's unusual to see two eggs on the same leaf; usually they are laid singly. This leaf may have been visited by two different butterflies, or the same butterfly may have returned to it after having laid eggs at other locations. The egg's actual size is less than a millimeter in diameter. From above, the egg looks round (as does the upper egg in the photo), but when viewed from the side, the egg's tapered profile can be seen (lower egg in photo). You can also see a faint striping effect; when viewed with a magnifying glass, the stripes are revealed as rows of facets. The Monarch egg's unique appearance, especially when viewed in profile, distinguishes it from other things you may find on milkweed leaves. Eggs are usually found on the bottoms of the leaves; however, occasionally an egg may be found on the top of a leaf or on a flower bud or seed pod. After about three days, a tiny larva hatches. It eats its way out of the egg and usually consumes the rest of the shell after freeing itself from its confines.

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