butterfly (?) eggs

emily_jane · #1 (**permalink**) 16-05-2008, 08:14 PM

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me. I found some eggs on a rose bush in my garden, they are green, about 15 in total, bunched together in a geometric type formation, and each around 1mm long. I am really hoping they are butterfly eggs, I have taken theminto my nursery class and told them that I think they might be, but can anyone shed any light on what they might be. I've only just searched the web, and it never really occured to me how many other bugs there might be, although I guess my kids will enjoy them whatever they are, I really do hope they are butterfly ones!
Thank you.

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 16-05-2008, 08:47 PM

Any chance of a photo? They are unlikely to be of a butterfly as none of the British species caterpillars use roses as a larval food plant, but maybe a moth, but equally some other group of insect.

Whatever they are it will be fascinating for the children to see what emerges + develops.

Paul mabbott · #3 (**permalink**) 16-05-2008, 08:59 PM

You don't say what part of the country you are in. These might be true bug or beetle eggs but we would need photos to even have a ghost of a chance!

You say you have taken the eggs into your class. There is a possibility that indoors they will dry up and die ... For sure, show the children for a period each day but keep them outside, shaded for most of the time.

Good luck - an excellent project!

emily_jane · #4 (**permalink**) 18-05-2008, 10:37 AM

Funnily enough, I've just been out to my garden and found a caterpillar on the same rose bush! One of the 'common' green ones- I'm no bug expert I'm afraid. Do you think then that this means the eggs at nursery (I took in plenty of folliage in case they hatched) might be caterpillars. I would take a photo but my husband has the camera in the states!