Female butterflies lay many eggs during their short life to insure that even a small number of these eggs will survive. Caterpillars (butterfly larva) hatch from eggs. The eggs are usually laid in a protected location on or near the plants that the soon-to-be caterpillar will eat.

How many eggs can a butterfly lay?

A female butterfly only lays eggs over a 2-5 week period. During this time, she probably lays an average of 300-400 eggs in the wild. Numbers in captivity are higher - about 500-700 depending on things like temperature and the conditions under which the female is kept.

Why do butterfly lay eggs?

After mating with a male, the female butterfly must go in search of a plant on which to lay her eggs. ... While laying her eggs, they are fertilized with the sperm that has been stored in her body since mating. Some butterflies lay a single egg, while others may lay their eggs in clusters.