How many eggs does a female monarch butterfly lay?

A female butterfly only lays eggs over a 2-5 week period. During this time, she probably lays an average of 300-400 eggs in the wild. Numbers in captivity are higher, ranging from about 500 to 700, depending on factors such as temperature and the conditions under which the female is kept. In captivity, monarchs have been recorded laying as many as 1100 eggs! Of course, most monarchs in the wild don't survive the egg and larval stages, but are eaten by predators and play an important part in their ecosystem. 

Rearing Monarchs 

It is not necessary to bring monarchs in from the wild to raise and protect them; the most important thing we can do is create habitat! If you would still like to rear a few monarchs, please read our handout, Rearing Monarchs For Research: A Guide for Enthusiasts.