egg development question

[pRS317]

I've been doing a lot of reading and have wondered about the development of the eggs. Knowing that the eggs are pliable until after laying, and that slugs tend to be smaller, I began to wonder if the eggs grow between ovulation and laying, or are they at their max size from ovulation onward? Does anyone have info on this?

[dr del]

Hi,

Far from an expert at this but I'll have a go at explaining the little I know.

At ovulation they aren't "eggs" in the way we tend to think of them.

It is only after ovulation that they are passed into the oviduct for shelling etc. So yes they get considerably larger after ovulation as the various layers and deposits are applied.

And the shells of BP eggs stays pliable - it is never rigid like the eggshell of a chicken egg for example.


dr del