In general, the female will lay in excess of 100 eggs, some species laying more than 1,000 eggs per gestation. The insect can lay the eggs in the soil or into hollow parts of plants, attach them to the different plant parts or drop them on the ground. These eggs resemble seeds -- they are small, oval and hard-shelled. Eggs dropped to the ground have large capitula that contain substances ants feed on. When ants find these eggs, they normally carry them to their nest and feed on the capitula without destroying the embryo. Eggs in the ant nest are thus protected against predators, and they hatch safely. This adaptation protects eggs from winter; they hatch when the weather warms up in spring. Eggs can hatch after a period of few weeks to several months, depending on species and habitat.