Painted Jezebel laying eggs on a Malayan Mistletoe leaf

Teo Lee Wei and K documented the female Painted Jezebel (Delias hyparete metarete) butterfly laying her eggs on the leaf of its host plant, the Malayan Mistletoe (Dendropthoe pentandra). The eggs are laid singly in a cluster, usually of more than 50.

According to Lee Wei, “the sticky eggs are extruded with some force from her cloacal opening and travel a short space of time before sticking to the undersurface of the leaf.” Placing the eggs on the undersurface protects them from the elements.

Check out the development of these eggs HERE.

Teo Lee Wei & K
Singapore
May 2014