How to Identify Common Insect Eggs on Leaves

Author: Emma Grace Crumbley, Entomologist

While some insects, like mosquitoes, need bodies of water to lay their eggs in, most insects lay their eggs on the leaves and stems of plants. Many of the eggs you’ll find on plants belong to beneficial insects in your yard. Some eggs, however, may hatch into pesky garden pests. Before letting eggs hatch or taking them off your foliage, try to identify whether the eggs belong to friends or foes.

Butterfly Eggs

Butterflies lay their eggs on specific plants that their caterpillars feed on, called host plants. Most butterflies will lay their eggs on the underside of plants to protect them from predators and harsh environments. Some butterflies lay their eggs in neat clusters, but most lay theirs in any available space on the host plant, leading to sporadic egg placement with eggs somewhat separated.

When checking for butterfly eggs, look for:

• Pointed, ribbed egg capsules
• 1-3mm in diameter (about the eye of a needle)
• Pale yellow, white, or dark eggs

If you don’t find butterfly eggs but know your yard usually sees butterflies, the eggs may have already hatched, and caterpillars are out and about. Butterfly caterpillars will eat their egg capsules after they emerge before feeding on the foliage they're crawling on.

Ladybug Eggs

Ladybugs are beneficial insects that can help control the aphid population in your lawn. Their eggs are laid clustered together and are rounded and more oblong than butterfly eggs. They usually have a rich yellow or orange color.

When checking for ladybug eggs, look for:

• Rounded, oblong egg capsules
• 1-2mm in diameter (about the eye of a needle)
• Egg-yolk yellow or orange

Lacewing Eggs

Unlike most insects, which adhere their eggs to leaves, lacewing eggs are suspended by a line of fine silk. The eggs are small and, when suspended, resemble mini stalks or mold spores. Rest assured, though, that lacewings are bugs you want to find in your yard. They are predaceous insects that feed on several garden pests, such as mites, mealybugs, and other soft-bodied arthropods.

When checking for lacewing eggs, look for:

• Tiny eggs attached to thin stalks, similar to bean sprouts
• 0.5-1.5mm in diameter (very small, usually the stalk is what identifies these eggs)
• Green or white egg capsules

Potential Pest Eggs

Arthropod eggs come in all shapes and sizes. When deciding if an egg cluster belongs to beneficial insects or yard pests, look for nearby adult insects or plant damage to determine the eggs' identity. Most pests like stink bugs, whiteflies, and squash bugs lay their eggs in organized clusters. Some pests, like spiders and moth larvae, protect their eggs with silk webbing in curled leaves.

When checking for pest eggs, look for:

• Uniformly clustered eggs
• Eggs covered in protective silk or webbing
• Nearby adults or plant damage

Egg-cellent Service!

At Mosquito Squad Plus, our highly trained technicians know where to look and how to identify pest harborage sites and breeding grounds. If you have questions about the bugs in your yard, call the Squad! Find a location near you today to schedule your next service and receive a free quote. Services vary by location.