05/07/2026
Monarch Watch Monarch Biology Series
Monarch egg
We're kicking off a monarch biology series, where we're sharing more about the monarch life cycle, anatomy, and other fun facts!
First up: the monarch egg.
Monarch eggs are tiny (smaller than the size of a pinhead), creamy white, and shaped like a miniature football. If you look closely, you’ll notice ridges along the egg and small structures on one end called "micropyles," which allow fertilization to occur.
Female monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed plants, and in about 3 to 5 days, a tiny caterpillar will emerge from each egg. One of the first things it does? It'll turn around and eat its own shell!
Stay tuned for the next post in our monarch biology series!
Photo credit: Rebecca Wagner
