a female butterfly will lay her eggs on or near the food plant of the caterpillar (the food plant is the plant that the caterpillar feeds on). the female will choose a place to lay her eggs using smell, taste, touch, and sight. most species will lay just one egg on the food plant. others will lay groups of five to over 100 eggs on the food plant. most species will lay their eggs on the leaves of the food plant. others will lay them on the flowers, stems, bark, or fruit of the food plant.