Butterfly egg on passion flower spiral (Dryas iulia)

Egg of a Julian heliconian (Dryas iulia) butterfly, carefully placed on a vine of the host plant (Passionfruit vine).

Zebralongwing butterfly egg

Insect eggs show stunning surface structures. Because of the many dangers, insects produce a lot of eggs equipped with thick shells. To guarantee sufficient oxygene diffusion during the development of the embryo caterpillar, butterflies have developped beautiful and heavily ornamented networks of interconnected pores, called the aeropyle system. The aeropyle system of the tropical Zebralongwing butterfly (Heliconius charithonia) possesses a prominently patterned egg surface.

Micropyle (Caligo memnon)

Mosaic pattern on the tip of a butterfly egg (Caligo memnon). The mosaic pattern on an owl butterfly egg looks like a landing pad. At the center is a minute opening, called a micropyle, through which the sperm enters the egg. The egg additionally features an entirely complex aeropyle system (tiny holes arranged in an actinomorphous way), with pathogen-defence: “bristle-like” structures on the inside of each hole make sure bacteria or fungi spores may not enter through the aeropyles and attack the growing embryo.

Adonis blue egg (Lysandra bellargus), Nr.2

Adonis blue (Lysandra bellargus)-egg on young leaf of a horseshoe vetch, a European perennial.

Mosquito egg surface

Adult females lay their eggs in standing water, which can be a salt-marsh, a lake, a puddle, a natural reservoir on a plant, or an artificial water container such as a plastic bucket. Usually many eggs are clumped together (i.e. 'egg rafts'). Each egg has a hydrophobic surface: a thin layer of air is trapped by 'tent-like' micro-structures, to avoid sinking of the egg/egg-raft.

Mosquito egg surface

Adult females lay their eggs in standing water, which can be a salt-marsh, a lake, a puddle, a natural reservoir on a plant, or an artificial water container such as a plastic bucket. Usually many eggs are clumped together (i.e. 'egg rafts'). Each egg has a hydrophobic surface: a thin layer of air is trapped by 'tent-like' micro-structures, to avoid sinking of the egg/egg-raft.

Adonis blue egg (Lysandra bellargus), Nr.1

Adonis blue (Lysandra bellargus)-egg on young leaf of a horseshoe vetch, a European perennial.

Blue Morpho egg (Morpho peleides)

The red band signals a chemical reaction that follows fertilization. Inside the egg is the germ of a blue morpho, one of the world's largest butterflies with a wing span of five to eight inches.

©-Micronaut-Butterfly-Egg-Caligo-Memnon-PTU0012_mini_2

Large White Cabbage egg clutch (Pieris brassicae)

Eggs of the Great White look like extraterrestrial buildings. They protect the embryo caterpillar and are equipped with pores to provide sufficient oxygene.

Large White Cabbage egg clutch (Pieris brassicae)

Eggs of the Great White look like extraterrestrial buildings. They protect the embryo caterpillar and are equipped with pores to provide sufficient oxygene.

Stinkbugs often lay their eggs in clumps. Individual eggs are glued not only to each other but also th the leaf on which they are left. Delicate projections may aid, like snorkels, in respiration.

Stinkbugs often lay their eggs in clumps. Individual eggs are glued not only to each other but also th the leaf on which they are left. Delicate projections may aid, like snorkels, in respiration.

Butterfly egg (Erynnis tages)

Butterfly egg (Erynnis tages)

Butterfly egg of Erynnis tages

Butterfly egg of Erynnis tages

Moth egg (Sterrhinae)

Egg shell of a moth species, extracted from the ovarial tract of female museum specimen. With kind support of Marius Junker (University Trier) and Axel Hausmann (ZSM).

Moth egg (Cyclophora pendulinaria)

Egg shell of a moth species, extracted from the ovarial tract of female museum specimen. With kind support of Marius Junker (University Trier) and Axel Hausmann (ZSM).

Moth egg (Idaea humiliata)

Egg shell of a moth species, extracted from the ovarial tract of female museum specimen. With kind support of Marius Junker (University Trier) and Axel Hausmann (ZSM).

Butterfly egg clutch of Araschnia levana

What looks like piles of yoghurt pots is an egg clutch of the Map (Araschnia levana), which deposits one egg on top of the other.

Butterfly egg of Hebo glaucippus

Butterfly egg of Hebo glaucippus

Butterfly egg of Graphium agamemnon

Butterfly egg of Graphium agamemnon

Micropyle (Idaea humiliata)

Egg shell of a moth species, extracted from the ovarial tract of female museum specimen. At the center is a minute opening called the micropyle, through which the sperm enters the egg.

Micropyle (Problepsis ocellata)

Egg shell of a moth species, extracted from the ovarial tract of female museum specimen. At the center is a minute opening called the micropyle, through which the sperm enters the egg.

Micropyle (Cethosia biblis)

Mosaic pattern on the tip of a butterfly egg (Cethosia biblis). At the center of the mosaic pattern is a minute opening, called a micropyle, through which the sperm enters the egg. The egg additionally features an entirely complex aeropyle system (tiny interconnected holes arranged in a beautiful ornament pattern) with efficient pathogen-defence: bacteria or fungi spores may not enter through the aeropyles and attack the growing embryo.

Charaxine micropyle (Prepona demophon)

Mosaic pattern on the tip of a Charaxine butterfly egg (Prepona demophon). The mosaic pattern on an owl butterfly egg looks far less developed compared to other species. In general, butterfly eggs are also equipped with an entirely complex aeropyle network (interconnected tiny holes arranged in an actinomorphous way), but also the aeropyle network has been mainly reduced by the Charaxine butterfly and

Aeropyle system (Cyclophora pendulinaria)

Aeropyle network (Idaea serpentata)

Pores, through which the embryo caterpillar is provided with oxygene, are interconnected with tubes and form a beautiful network on this butterfly egg (Idaea serpentata). Enlarged area from the lateral side of the egg.

Aeropyle Network (Danaus plexhippus), Nr.2

Bracing section with pores, through which the embryo caterpillar is provided with oxygene, at the side of a Monarch (Danau

Aeropyle Network (Danaus plexhippus), Nr.1

Bracing section with pores, through which the embryo caterpillar is provided with oxygene, at the side of a Monarch (Danau

Aeropyle Network

Pores, through which caterpillar embryos are provided with oxygene during their development inside the egg. Enlarged area from the lateral surface of an Owl Butterfly egg (Caligo

Aeropyle network (Lysandra bellargus)

Adonis blue (Lysandra bellargus)-egg on young leaf of a horseshoe vetch, a European perennial. The egg is equipped with a predominant aeropyle system. It makes sure the developing embryo caterpillar is provided with sufficient oxygene during the development. Aeropyles are interconnected tubes. In this species, the network structure of the system follows the Fibonacci Series which leads to a most beauriful ornamentation on the surface of the egg.

Aeropyle network (Prepona demophon)

Mosaic pattern on the tip of a Charaxine butterfly egg (Prepona demophon). The mosaic pattern on an owl butterfly egg looks far less developed compared to other species. In general, butterfly eggs are also equipped with an entirely complex aeropyle network (interconnected tiny holes arranged in an actinomorphous way), but also the aeropyle network has been mainly reduced by the Charaxine butterfly and