Observing egg laying

[Orangeaid]

This is my 4th year of rearing monarchs and for the first time i have witnessed the egg laying process in the wild. As i was collecting eggs and cats i observed a monarch close by and moved in to inspect. It was not shy and let me watch as the eggs were dropped on every leaf in the area.The site of the abdomen reaching around and depositing a fresh egg on the milkweed was awesome! I kind of felt a little guilty afterwards as i was following her around and picking up almost every egg she put out. But i know iam helping in the grand scheme.

[carolv90]

I'm seeing my first females laying eggs this year also. All this time I've had milkweed plants (10 years) I've never seen the eggs or cats. Last year I found 4 late instars and watched 3 hatch It was well worth the wait. I'm finding the eggs on little tiny milkweed plants not the big ones with developing pods. I guess I was always looking in the wrong spot!!

[Orangeaid]

Yes from what i have read and learned through experience they prefer to lay the eggs on the small tender milkweed plants . I think because they will grow with the plant and have fresh milkweed throughout their development cycle.

[ButterflyLdy]

Over the past few days I've witnessed Monarch pairs dancing and flitting about. I saw several females laying eggs all over my 5 milkweed patches throughout the yard. I collected 26 eggs yesterday. The coolest thing was watching the mating process. I caught this last evening and was able to take some pictures. I'll post one here. Hopefully this works - I'm a "new egg" here.

[Farfalla]

Wow..Great mating pic!

This was also the first year I have ever seen monarchs laying eggs! Or "ovipositing" as I have learned from this forum . )

I was lucky that the first time I witnessed it I was at work with my preschoolers . We brought her eggs inside ( On May 31st) and were able to release "her children" before the school year was out. What an incredible experience!!

[Orangeaid]

Nice picture. I have not seen that yet but i look forward to viewing that in the wild. Dave