Piles of eggs laid with care...




    One upon a time, in the far east of France (Franche-Comté, May 2010)...
During a walk in the woodlands for some reason, my attention was attracted to the side of the path where this female of Map butterfly (Araschnia levana) was laying some eggs on Nettle (Urtica dioica). The underside of a leaf near the head of a Nettle stem had been selected by the insect.
 
    It seemed that the whole process had been lasting for a while before I spotted it.
Each egg was being laid patiently one by one in piles, which is typical in this species.

The female suddenly stopped and flew away, leaving to its fate all that she had just built up.
    An outstanding work of art was achieved here !