Mating starts as many as four weeks, or more, before egg laying and continues through the process, up to several times an hour.  The male will mount the female, typically no longer then ten seconds, then he will disengage and fly off. Fertilization of an egg happens every 48 hours. After being fertilized, it takes an egg 24 hours to develop and be laid… resulting in a new egg being laid every 48 hours!  We are likely a day or two away from the first egg being laid, if it hasn’t happened all ready!