Help identifying insect eggs

[Sofia]

Hi all, am new here.

I found this string of white eggs barely covered by a few leaves on my gravel today. They are opaque/white, what you see is all there was. All in a string, no nucleus I could see. Only slightly tacky.

There is plenty of water nearby, but they were not laid in it, hence I think it may be insect eggs of some variety?

All pointers gratefully received

[poschiavanus]

Hi Sofia,

Welcome to WAB.

My guess would be that these are eggs of slugs or snails: insect eggs are usually (always?) laid with a harder outer layer (I presume of chitin). I also can't think of any which are as large.

Posch

[Sofia]

Yes, I thought that could be the case, but have never known them to be strung together? Also, they are very large. Perhaps a particular species?

Perhaps

Limax maximus?

[serendipity]

Toadspawn!

[Lance Morgan]

Looks like toad spawn tho I cannot see any embryos inside

[Wild-Woman]

Toadspawn is in one continuous jelly strip with black embryos visible.

[Sofia]

And toad spawn is laid in the water... and this is on gravel... and there are plenty of ponds within metres of the site I found it. Also nothing in the centre, and only a very small string compared to spawn which is laid in the hundreds often.

Definitely not spawn, I know for sure. I'm still thinking giant slug atm. Closest match I can find.

[nightshade]

I am not saying it is Toad spawn, but have seen female toads towing bits of spawn behind them just occasionally

[ladyhawk]

I would say it is toad spawn but unfertilised

[Sofia]

Towing toad spawn, euw... ha ha. Well I suppose it could be unfertilised spawn that dropped off a toad tow path... yuck.

It was under a small pile of leaves, perhaps we have a resident that I've upset. Will keep an eye on them and see what happens!