It is often said that one of the most delicate objects in nature is the wing of a butterfly.
If that is the case, then how would you describe the delicate nature of the egg of a butterfly?
Butterfly eggs are tiny - most are less than 1 mm across.
The scale bar in this picture is 0.25 mm long.
In Victoria there are more than a hundred species of butterflies from five different families.
The five families are the Papilionidae (Swallowtails), Nymphalidae (Browns and Nymphs), Pieridae (Whites & Yellows), Lycaenidae (Hairstreaks, Blues and Coppers), and Hesperiidae (Skippers).
A recent book by Ross Field on the Victorian butterflies (published by Museum Victoria) took images of the eggs of each species, many for the first time.
<em>Jalmenus evagoras</em>, Imperial HairstreakScale bar = 1 mm
Because the eggs are so small, all the photographs were taken down a Leica microscope with a special digital camera attached.
The field of view down a microscope is extremely shallow. To get a 3D views of the entire egg 60-80 individual images of each egg were taken, each image being at a different focal plane of the egg. These images were then combined into a single 3D image using montaging software.
When all the pictures were taken we realised that the external sculpture of the eggs was unique to each family.
Papilionidae (Swallowtails)
The swallowtails are the smallest family of butterflies in Victoria with only five recorded species across the state. Butterflies in this family often have prominent tails on their hindwings that give the family its name.
The Swallowtails lay smooth, rounded eggs.
<em>Graphium macleayanum moggana</em>, Macleay's SwallowtailScale bar = 0.5 mm
Butterfly egg: Graphium sarpedon, Blue Triangle by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Graphium sarpedon chloredon</em>, Blue Triangle
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Papilio aegeus aegeus, Orchard Swallowtail by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Papilio aegeus aegeus</em>, Orchard Swallowtail
Scale bar = 0.5 mm
Butterfly egg: Papilio demoleus sthenelus, Chequered Swallowtail by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Papilio demoleus sthenelus</em>, Chequered Swallowtail
Scale bar = 0.5 mm
Butterfly egg: Papilio anactus, Dainty Swallowtail by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Papilio anactus</em>, Dainty Swallowtail
Scale bar = 0.5 mm
Nymphalidae (Browns)
There are 29 species Browns and Nymphs in Victoria. Some, are very widespread and common, such as this Shouldered Brown.
The Browns lay ribbed eggs.
<em>Vanessa itea</em>, Yellow AdmiralScale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Danaus petilia, Lesser Wanderer by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Danaus petilia</em>, Lesser Wanderer
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Euploea core corrina, Common Crow by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Euploea core corrina</em>, Common Crow
Scale bar = 0.5 mm
Butterfly egg: Acraea andromacha, Glasswing by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Acraea andromacha</em>, Glasswing
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Pieridae (Whites & Yellows)
There are 13 species of Whites and Yellows in Victoria making it the second smallest family of butterflies in the state. Only a few species spend their entire life in Victoria. Most species migrate from the north; the family is much more common in tropical areas.
The Whites & Yellows lay tall, narrow eggs with a chequered pattern.
<em>Elodina padusa</em>, Narrow-winged Pearl-whiteScale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Pieris rapae rapae, Cabbage White by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Pieris rapae rapae</em>, Cabbage White
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Appias paulina ega, Yellow Albatross by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Appias paulina ega</em>, Yellow Albatross
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Eurema smilax, Small Grass-yellow by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Eurema similax</em>, Small Grass-yellow
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Catopsila pomona pomona, Lemon Migrant by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Catopsila pomona</em>, Lemon Migrant
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
The Lycaeidae (Hairstreaks, Blues and Coppers)
There are 41 species of Lycaeidae in Victoria making it the second largest family of butterflies in the state. Twelve species are of special conservation significance in Victoria and many others are also considered rare.
The Hairstreaks, Blues and Coppers lay eggs that are spiked or honeycombed.
<em>Jalmenus ictinus</em>, Stencilled HairstreakScale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Hypochrysops ignitus ignitus, Fiery Jewel by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Hypochrysops ignitus ignitus</em>, Fiery Jewel
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Candalides heathi heathi, Rayed Blue Butterfly egg: Candalides heathi heathi, Rayed BlueMuseums Victoria
<em>Candalides heathi heathi</em>, Rayed Blue
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Pseudalmenus chlorinda zephyrus, Silky Hairstreak Butterfly egg: Pseudalmenus chlorinda zephyrus, Silky HairstreakMuseums Victoria
<pseudalmenus chlorinda zephyrus< /em>, Silky Hairstreak
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Paralucia aurifer, Bright Copper Butterfly egg: Paralucia aurifer, Bright CopperMuseums Victoria
<em>Paralucia aurifera</em>, Bright Copper
Scale bar = 0.1 mm
Butterfly egg: Ogyris amaryllis meridionalis, Satin Azure by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Ogyris amaryllis meridionalis</em>, Satin Azure
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
The Hesperiidae (Skippers)
There are 42 recorded species of Skippers in Victoria making it - just - the largest family of butterflies in the state. They are called skippers because of their fast, jerky flight.
The Skippers lay eggs that are broad at the base and ribbed.
<em>Signeta flammeata</em>, Bright Shield-skipperScale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Antipodia atralba, Diamond Sand-skipper by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Antipoda atralba</em>, Diamond Sand-skipper
Scale bar = 0.5 mm
Butterfly egg: Toxidia doubledayi, Lilac Grass-skipper by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Toxidia doubledayi</em>, Lilac Grass-skipper
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Toxidia peron, Dingy Grass-skipper by Ross Field and Simon HinkleyMuseums Victoria
<em>Toxidia peron</em>, Dingy Grass-skipper
Scale bar = 0.25 mm
Butterfly egg: Motasingha trimaculata, Large Brown Skipper Butterfly egg: Motasingha trimaculata, Large Brown SkipperMuseums Victoria
<em>Motasingha trimaculata trimaculata</em>, Large Brown Skipper
Scale bar = 0.5 mm
Butterfly egg images were taken by Ross Field and Simon Hinkley at Melbourne Museum with the assistance of Ken Walker.
Ross Field’s "Butterflies: identification and life history" provides amateur naturalists, bushwalkers and interested readers with a comprehensive guide to butterflies found in Victoria and the east coast of Australia. It is full of many other stunning colour photographs of butterflies in all their life stages from egg to adult.
Copies can be ordered from the Museum Victoria Shop:
https://museumvictoria.com.au/about/books-and-journals/books/science/back-list/butterflies/
