Eggs of Huffmanela huffmani at approximately the same scale under various conditions. (A) LM of a recently fertilized (as indicated by the presence of polar plugs) egg of Huffmanela huffmani freshly deposited into host tissue with the Uterine Layer poorly developed and overlying a thin Chitinous Layer; (B) LM of a slightly older egg with embryo having now bent into the “comma stage,” and which has developed (since being deposited in host tissue) a much thicker but still hyaline Chitinous Layer and the characteristic Surface Papillae on the Uterine Layer; (C) confocal of an unstained fresh egg with the Outer Layer of the Polar Plug autofluorescing brightly (no dye); (D) phase contrast of an older, larvated egg showing now-darkened Chitinous Layer, regular spacing of Surface Papillae, and transparent, highly refractile nature of the Outer Layer of Polar Plug; (E) SEM of normal egg with Uterine Layer partially torn away showing normally smooth outer surface of the Rigid Eggshell Wall; (F) Egg with aberrant wrinkles in Chitinous Layer that affect Uterine Layer. (A)–(D): live eggs in spring water or saline.