川硬皮肿腿蜂在松褐天牛幼虫上的合作繁育行为

【目的】硬皮肿腿蜂Sclerodermus spp.在寄生蜂中独有雌蜂合作繁育的准社会行为。本研究旨在明确该合作繁育行为在非自然寄主天牛上有何表现。【方法】随机选取松褐天牛Monochamus alternatus幼虫(体重范围0.16～0.44 g),个体称体重后分别接1, 2和4头已交配但尚未产卵的川硬皮肿腿蜂S.sichuanensis雌蜂即母蜂,观测母蜂产卵前期和子代发育表现等参数,分析寄主体重(连续自变量)和接蜂数(分类自变量)对这些参数的影响。【结果】对所有观测参数的分析未发现寄主体重与接蜂数这两因素之间存在互作影响,说明这两个因素独立影响观测特征。川硬皮肿腿蜂母蜂产卵前期随寄主体重增大而逐渐延长,但在母蜂数较多的情况下产卵前期缩短:接4头蜂处理下产卵前期比接1和2头处理下的产卵前期分别缩短18.3%和20.6%。按照母蜂平均产子代蜂数量(蜂均产蜂量)计算,接1头蜂处理下的蜂均产蜂量分别是接2和4头蜂处理下的蜂均产蜂量的1.5和3.3倍;蜂均产蜂量不受寄主体重的影响。子代蜂性比(雄蜂占比)在接蜂数较多处理下略有增大,但仍然极端偏雌;性比不受寄主体重的影响。子代卵至成虫存活率在接4头母蜂处理下最低,比接1和2头母蜂处理下分别降低37.4%和30.5%;子代卵至成虫存活率不受寄主体重的影响。子代蜂体型(后足胫节长度)随寄主体重增大而增大,但不受接蜂数的影响。【结论】本研究结果说明,在合作利用体型较大的非自然寄主时,母蜂数量比寄主体型大小对川硬皮肿腿蜂的合作繁育行为产生更大的影响。     

白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂对栗山天牛低龄幼虫的寄生作用

栗山天牛Massicus raddei（Blessig）是我国东北危害栎树的重要害虫。在对其进行生物防治研究中,通过功能反应实验方法探讨了利用寄生蜂白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂Sclerodermus pupariae Yang et Yao对栗山天牛低龄幼虫的寄生作用。结果表明：白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂在取食寄主补充营养的过程中,对栗山天牛1～2龄小幼虫的致死作用随着寄主密度的增加而显著提高,功能反应符合Holling Ⅱ型方程,平均每日最大致死量为0.53头。寄生作用功能反应符合Holling Ⅰ型方程,寻找时间21 d内的寄主密度阈限为4头。当该肿腿蜂密度固定为1头时,对栗山天牛致死作用和寄生作用的寻找效率均随寄主密度的上升而降低。当寄主密度固定不变时,随着寄生蜂密度的增加寄主的死亡数量线性升高,被寄生的寄主数量也上升,但该肿腿蜂对栗山天牛低龄幼虫致死作用和寄生作用的寻找效应均显著下降,表明白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂是防治栗山天牛低龄幼虫的良好天敌。研究结果对于合理评价白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂在生产上的控害能力和制定寄生蜂的林间释放应用技术规程提供了依据。     

白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂学习行为的研究

肿腿蜂是防治林木蛀干害虫的重要天敌。为了解肿腿蜂搜索寄主的行为机制,研究了白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂Sclerodermus pupariae Yang et Yao搜索和寄生我国重大林木蛀干害虫——栗山天牛Massicus raddei(Blessig)幼虫过程中的学习行为。结果表明,白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂的记忆效应随着搜索次数的增加而增加。用寄主虫粪和木屑混合物预处理后,白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂搜索到寄主的时间缩短。不同学习经历的白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂对与寄主栗山天牛相关的气味源物质嗅觉测定结果表明,白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂经历栗山天牛幼虫虫粪和蛀屑环境后明显倾向于选择栗山天牛虫粪和木屑混合物,而经历栗山天牛幼虫或辽东栎树皮环境的肿腿蜂对相应的气味选择偏好性不显著。研究结果表明,多寄主型寄生蜂白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂具有较强的联系性学习能力有利于用来防治多种非原始寄主害虫,能够明显提高其对新寄主的寄生作用。     

管氏肿腿蜂母子亲缘关系对抚育行为的影响

【目的】硬皮肿腿蜂属Sclerodermus寄生蜂具有合作抚育子代的准社会行为,可有效利用防卫较强的大体型寄主,但亲缘关系是否影响其合作有待深究。本研究旨在探究管氏肿腿蜂S.guani母蜂与子代蜂间的亲缘关系是否影响抚育行为。【方法】以黄粉虫Tenebrio militor初化蛹为寄主,采取连续录像-回放观察的方法比较亲生和非亲生母蜂搬移子代幼虫的重要抚育行为,并观察子代蜂幼虫存活、化蛹、性比和体重等发育表现。【结果】亲生母蜂识别幼虫用时(32.73 s)与非亲生母蜂(19.64 s)没有显著差异,但在12 h内探查的幼虫数量(176头)比非亲生母蜂的多1倍。亲生母蜂转移一次幼虫的耗时(27.31 s)与非亲生母蜂的(41.55 s)没有显著差异;但2次搬运的间隔时间存在显著差异,亲生母蜂的间隔时间只有非亲生母蜂的60%。亲生母蜂与非亲生母蜂抚育的子代幼虫存活率没有显著差异,均高达90%;但亲生母蜂抚育的子代蜂蛹至成虫羽化率略高于非亲生母蜂抚育的子代蜂,分别为95.5%和91.4%。亲生母蜂与非亲生母蜂抚育的子代雌性比例没有显著差异,均偏雌(约90%),子代雌成虫体重也无显著差异。【结论】管氏肿腿蜂母子亲缘关系虽对抚育行为略有影响,但对子代发育的影响不明显。     

Functional response of the parasitoid Sclerodermus sp.(Hymenoptera:Bethylidae) to the third instar larvae of host Monochamus alternatus ( Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

为评估松褐天牛肿腿蜂Sclerodermus sp.(膜翅目:肿腿蜂科)对其寄主松褐天牛Monochamus alternatus 3龄幼虫的控制作用,通过功能反应试验,研究了松褐天牛肿腿蜂对松褐天牛3龄幼虫补充营养时期的捕食功能反应和补充营养后的寄生功能反应以及肿腿蜂的密度效应.结果表明:当松褐天牛肿腿蜂密度固定为1头/缸时,肿腿蜂因补充营养对松褐天牛3龄幼虫的捕食功能反应符合Holling Ⅱ型方程,1头松褐大牛肿腿蜂雌蜂对松褐天牛3龄幼虫的最大致死量为9.48头,平均为3.75头;寄生作用的功能反应符合Holling Ⅰ型方程,可知肿腿蜂的寄主密度阈限为4头就能满足补充营养和寄生的需要;在捕食和寄生两个阶段其对松褐天牛幼虫的寻找效应随着寄主密度的增加呈线性减弱.当松褐天牛幼虫密度固定为30头/缸时,随着肿腿蜂的密度增加,其补充营养阶段的捕食作用和之后的寄生作用均呈线性升高,寻找效应则呈线性减弱;由蜂虫比和致死总量的模型可得肿腿蜂与天牛幼虫比例为0.9805(近1∶1)时,可使松褐天牛幼虫死亡总数最大.这些结果表明,松褐天牛肿腿蜂是松褐天牛幼虫期的有效天敌.本研究为评价松褐天牛肿腿蜂对寄主的控制能力提供了基础数据和方法,并为其在野外的释放量提供了依据.     

寄生经历对川硬皮肿腿蜂寄主搜索行为的影响

研究寄生经历对川硬皮肿腿蜂SclerodmasichuanensisXiao寄主搜索行为的影响的结果表明,在指形管内,有寄生经历的川硬皮肿腿蜂产卵准备时间比无寄生经历蜂短,寄主搜索控制时间更少,寄主搜索控制成功率更高。1～3次经历蜂随着经历次数的增加,产卵准备时间逐渐缩短。无经历、1次、2次、3次经历蜂的产卵准备期分别为:6.3,5.3,4.9,4.6d。但3次经历后,准备时间的变化即不显著。无经历蜂与1次经历蜂、5次经历蜂的搜索控制寄主时间分别为:820,240,30min,对寄主的搜索控制成功率分别为72.97%,100%,100%。寄生经历蜂接蜂3d时卵子发育速率更快,寄生经历蜂与无寄生经历蜂在替代寄主上的产卵量差异不显著。     

栗山天牛幼虫天敌白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂的转主寄主研究

在利用白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂Sclerodermus pupariae防治世代周期长、 发育整齐的害虫栗山天牛Massicus raddei中, 我们发现该天敌只在寄主1-3龄幼虫时具有良好的寄生效果, 而对3龄以上的中老龄幼虫基本不寄生。为了了解释放白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂后其种群能否在栎树林间延续下去, 达到持续控制靶标害虫的效果, 我们调查了其在栎树林间的转主寄主。结果表明： 白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂除了寄生栗山天牛外, 还能寄生双簇天牛Moechotypa diphysis、 四点象天牛Mesosa myops和栎块斑吉丁Lamprodila virgata幼虫。白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂寄生不同转主寄主幼虫的成功率差异显著, 对栎块斑吉丁和双簇天牛幼虫的寄生率最高, 分别为76.67%和73.33%。寄生上述4种寄主时, 其雌蜂在不同寄主上的产卵前期、 产卵量及第2代雌蜂出蜂量、 出蜂率、 体长和寿命等差异不显著, 只有幼虫期和蛹期历期及第2代雌蜂有翅率和雌雄性比略有差异。室内模拟林间寄生试验表明, 白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂对双簇天牛和四点象天牛幼虫的寄生率较高。对双簇天牛和四点象天牛野外生活史研究发现, 这2种天牛幼虫在白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂不适宜寄生的栗山天牛中老龄幼虫期、 蛹期和成虫期均大量存在, 表明双簇天牛和四点象天牛是白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂在栎树林中的主要转主寄主。本研究说明, 在利用白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂生物防治栗山天牛中, 白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂在林间寄生栗山天牛的1-3龄幼虫后, 可转移寄生双簇天牛等转主寄主, 以延续其种群, 待下一代栗山天牛幼龄幼虫出现时再转移寄生栗山天牛, 达到持续控制栗山天牛的防治效果。     

管氏肿腿蜂对黄粉甲的寄生行为

在人工扩繁条件下观察管氏肿腿蜂Scleroderma guani对中间寄主黄粉甲Tenebrio molitor的寄生行为,其过程可分为：搜寻-识别-螯刺-清理和取食-产卵-护幼。雌蜂在寄生黄粉甲蛹时上蜂速度和螯刺率变异大,上蜂前时间为1.4～7.0天, 螯刺率为8.7%～91.7%,影响两者的因素包括： 雌蜂的交配状况、寄主状况及繁育温度等。蜂毒螯入寄主后可使其组织不腐烂而适于被寄生,被螯刺后的蛹可表现为 “保鲜”状态,平均“保鲜”时间为12.6天。蜂在蛹体的平均产卵量为30粒,最多为91粒。蜂卵在蛹体上分布合理,有利于幼虫有效利用寄主营养并避免拥挤和取食竞争。母蜂对幼虫期的发育具保护行为,包括护卵和保护幼虫正常发育并能搬运老熟幼虫集中结茧化蛹。     

松褐天牛肿腿蜂对寄主松褐天牛三龄幼虫的功能反应

为评估松褐天牛肿腿蜂Sclerodermus sp.（膜翅目： 肿腿蜂科）对其寄主松褐天牛Monochamus alternatus 3 龄幼虫的控制作用, 通过功能反应试验, 研究了松褐天牛肿腿蜂对松褐天牛3 龄幼虫补充营养时期的捕食功能反应和补充营养后的寄生功能反应以及肿腿蜂的密度效应。结果表明： 当松褐天牛肿腿蜂密度固定为1 头/缸时, 肿腿蜂因补充营养对松褐天牛3 龄幼虫的捕食功能反应符合Holling Ⅱ型方程, 1 头松褐天牛肿腿蜂雌蜂对松褐天牛3 龄幼虫的最大致死量为9.48 头, 平均为3.75 头; 寄生作用的功能反应符合Holling Ⅰ型方程, 可知肿腿蜂的寄主密度阈限为4 头就能满足补充营养和寄生的需要; 在捕食和寄生两个阶段其对松褐天牛幼虫的寻找效应随着寄主密度的增加呈线性减弱。当松褐天牛幼虫密度固定为30 头/缸时, 随着肿腿蜂的密度增加, 其补充营养阶段的捕食作用和之后的寄生作用均呈线性升高, 寻找效应则呈线性减弱; 由蜂虫比和致死总量的模型可得肿腿蜂与天牛幼虫比例为0.9805（近1∶1）时, 可使松褐天牛幼虫死亡总数最大。这些结果表明, 松褐天牛肿腿蜂是松褐天牛幼虫期的有效天敌。本研究为评价松褐天牛肿腿蜂对寄主的控制能力提供了基础数据和方法, 并为其在野外的释放量提供了依据。     

肿腿蜂类寄生蜂室内控害效能评价——以松脊吉丁肿腿蜂为例

为了开发利用天敌资源防治害虫,科学而客观地评价肿腿蜂对蛀干害虫的控害作用,研究了松脊吉丁肿腿蜂(Sclerodermus sp.)对松褐天牛3龄幼虫的功能反应,建立了肿腿蜂类寄生蜂室内控害效能评价体系,并证明了其可行性。该评价体系包括供试虫源标准、寄生蜂生物学与寄生行为学观察、寄生蜂对寄主的功能反应和寻找寄主效应以及寄生蜂的忠岐指数(Y)4个部分。研究结果表明:松脊吉丁肿腿蜂具有较强的控害潜力,单头雌成虫能防治3—4头松褐天牛3龄幼虫,21d内最多可致死9.07头寄主幼虫;寄主密度对单头寄生蜂寄生作用功能反应的测定结果与对寄生作用寻找效应的测定结果以及对产卵量影响的测定结果一致;综合评价该蜂对松褐天牛3龄幼虫控制效能,释放比为1∶1(即1头肿腿蜂雌蜂:1头3龄松褐天牛幼虫)时最高,其忠岐指数Y为39.63,这可能是肿腿蜂类天敌特有的抚幼习性所致,结论也与寄生蜂生物学特性及寄生行为学观察结果相同。研究结论证明该评价体系是稳定可靠的。评价体系在利用天敌昆虫生物防治害虫时为筛选最佳寄生性天敌种类提供了可行的方法和依据。     

斑痣悬茧蜂寄生、发育和生殖特征与寄主幼虫日龄的关系

【目的】“圆屋顶形”假说认为,对单寄生性姬蜂和茧蜂适合度而言,中间龄期幼虫寄主的品质高于更早和更晚龄期幼虫。该假说得到许多研究支持,但这些研究常以寄主幼虫脱皮划分虫龄,很少观测生殖特征,从而难以确切和全面描述适合度随寄主生长发育变化而变化的关系。本研究旨在检验“圆屋顶形”假说。【方法】本研究以斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura不同日龄幼虫为寄主,观测斑痣悬茧蜂Meteorus pulchricornis寄生和发育特征,并测定成蜂生殖力。【结果】线性回归分析表明,雌蜂对中间日龄寄主幼虫的寄生率大于对两端日龄寄主幼虫的寄生率;蜂卵至成虫的存活、成虫体型大小及其生殖力（产卵量）等适合度相关特征均表现出中间日龄寄主幼虫处理大于两端日龄幼虫处理。【结论】研究结果支持“圆屋顶形”假说。     

母代雌蜂数、进果时间及非传粉小蜂对传粉榕小蜂后代数量及性比的影响

【目的】对性比的研究有助于我们理解自然界生物的选择压力及其所产生的原因和结果,榕树和榕小蜂之间的互惠共生关系以及生物学和生态学特性使其成为研究性比和局域配偶竞争模型（local mate competition）的理想材料。本研究旨在探明榕小蜂性比调节和进化机制。【方法】对分布于西双版纳地区的鸡嗉子榕Ficus semicordata进行了人工控制性放蜂实验。测定了母代雌蜂数量及其进果时间间隔、非传粉小蜂Sycoscapter trifemmensis数量对传粉榕小蜂Ceratosolen gravelyi后代数量（成蜂数量）和性比的影响,并分析了小蜂后代数量和性比的相关性。【结果】在榕果发育期一致的前提下,随着母代雌蜂数量的增加,每头雌蜂的平均后代数量明显下降(P<0.001),后代性比显著升高(P<0.001),后代数量和性比呈显著负相关(P<0.05);随着雌蜂进果间隔的延长,后代数量亦呈现下降趋势,且性比增大,放2头雌蜂和3头雌蜂的处理呈同样趋势,但差异均不显著(P=0.87; P=0.49),小蜂后代数量与性比无显著相关性(P=0.86)。此外,非传粉小蜂数量与传粉小蜂后代数量呈显著负相关(P<0.001),与传粉小蜂性比呈正相关(P<0.001),小蜂后代数量和性比同样呈现显著负相关(P<0.001)。【结论】本实验模拟了自然界中榕 蜂的相互作用,所得结果有助于我们理解自然状态下榕小蜂性比调节模式和机制,以及榕 蜂互利共生系统的进化机制。     

Co‐foundress confinement elicits kinship effects in a naturally sub‐social parasitoid

Kinship among interacting individuals is often associated with sociality and also with sex ratio effects. Parasitoids in the bethylid genus Goniozus are sub‐social, with single foundress females exhibiting post‐ovipositional maternal care via short‐term aggressive host and brood defence against conspecific females. Due to local mate competition (LMC) and broods normally being produced by a single foundress, sex ratios are female‐biased. Contests between adult females are, however, not normally fatal, and aggression is reduced when competing females are kin, raising the possibility of multi‐foundress reproduction on some hosts. Here, we screen for further life‐history effects of kinship by varying the numbers and relatedness of foundresses confined together with a host resource and also by varying the size of host. We confined groups of 1–8 Goniozus nephantidis females together with a host for 5+ days. Multi‐foundress groups were either all siblings or all nonsiblings. Our chief expectations included that competition for resources would be more intense among larger foundress groups but diminished by both larger host size and closer foundress relatedness, affecting both foundress mortality and reproductive output. From classical LMC theory, we expected that offspring group sex ratios would be less female‐biased when there were more foundresses, and from extended LMC theory, we expected that sex ratios would be more female‐biased when foundresses were close kin. We found that confinement led to the death of some females (11% overall) but only when host resources were most limiting. Mortality of foundresses was less common when foundresses were siblings. Developmental mortality among offspring was considerably higher in multi‐foundress clutches but was unaffected by foundress relatedness. Groups of sibling foundresses collectively produced similar numbers of offspring to nonsibling groups. There was little advantage for individual females to reproduce in multi‐foundress groups: single foundresses suppressed even the largest hosts presented and had the highest per capita production of adult offspring. Despite single foundress reproduction being the norm, G. nephantidis females in multi‐foundress groups appear to attune sex allocation according to both foundress number and foundress relatedness: broods produced by sibling foundresses had sex ratios similar to broods produced by single foundresses (ca. 11% males), whereas the sex ratios of broods produced by nonsibling females were approximately 20% higher and broadly increased with foundress number. We conclude that relatedness and host size may combine to reduce selection against communal reproduction on hosts and that, unlike other studied parasitoids, G. nephantidis sex ratios conform to predictions of both classical and extended LMC theories.     

Putting your sons in the right place: the spatial distribution of fig wasp offspring inside figs

Abstract. 1. Pollinating fig wasps (Hymenoptera, Agaonidae) display sex ratio adjustment, producing less female‐biased combined sex ratios as the number of ovipositing females (foundresses) inside a fig increases. Because males have low mobility, the oviposition sites (galled ovules) chosen by each foundress are likely to have consequences for the mating structure of wasp populations within the figs. 2. In this study, the spatial location of male and female progeny of the pollinating fig wasp Liporrhopalum tentacularis developing within figs of its host plant Ficus montana was examined to investigate two questions: (i) are male and/or female wasp offspring clustered together or interspersed? and (ii) is their distribution affected by whether one or two foundresses are present? Microsatellite markers were used to identify the progeny of different foundresses in dual‐foundress figs. 3. More offspring developed in the central part of the figs, compared with the ostiolar and basal parts, irrespective of foundress number. Neither male nor female wasp offspring were clustered within a fig. 4. The sons of the second foundress to enter a fig were positioned at similar minimum distances to both sibling and non‐sibling females, whereas the sons of the first foundress were closer to their sibling females than to non‐sibling females. If male wasps mate predominantly with females in adjacent galls, then the positioning of sons by the second foundresses is beneficial for them both in terms of reduced sibling mating and because they are provided with ready access to the female progeny of the first foundress.     

Pollinating fig wasp Ceratosolen solmsi adjusts the offspring sex ratio to other foundresses

Abstract Local mate competition theory predicts that offspring sex ratio in pollinating fig wasps is female‐biased when there is only one foundress, and increased foundress density results in increased offspring sex ratio. Information of other foundresses and clutch size have been suggested to be the main proximate explanations for sex ratio adjustment under local mate competition. Our focus was to show the mechanism of sex ratio adjustment in a pollinating fig wasp, Ceratosolen solmsi Mayr, an obligate pollinator of the functionally dioecious fig, Ficus hispida Linn., with controlled experiments in the field. First, we obtained offspring from one pollinator and offspring at different oviposition sequences, and found that offspring sex ratio decreased with clutch size, and pollinators produced most of their male offspring at the start of bouts, followed by mostly females. Second, we found that offspring sex ratio increased with foundress density, and pollinators did adjust their offspring sex ratio to other females in the oviposition patches. We suggest that when oviposition sites are not limited, pollinators will mainly adjust their offspring sex ratio to other foundresses independent of clutch size changes, whereas adjusting clutch size may be used to adjust sex ratio when oviposition sites are limited.     

独栖蜂黄缘蜾蠃的产卵行为及其与寄生胁迫的关系

【目的】独栖蜂黄缘蜾蠃Anterhynchium flavomarginatum是农林业害虫的重要天敌之一。本研究旨在明确黄缘蜾蠃的产卵策略及其对寄生胁迫的行为响应,为农林业害虫生物防治提供基础依据。【方法】2018-2020年,在广东车八岭国家级自然保护区及周边区域使用根据公里网格方案(共计100个调查网格,网格大小为1 km²)设置的人工巢管调查了黄缘蜾蠃的产卵策略及其与寄生胁迫之间的关系。通过连续采集该蜂的筑巢巢管并饲养调查,我们详细记录了每根巢管的孵育室数量及其子代在巢管里的性比和被寄生情况,并测量了每根巢管的长度、内径和巢室结构特征。【结果】2018-2020年中,我们获得了黄缘蜾蠃筑巢的巢管达3 733根和孵育室9 269个,其中被寄生的孵育室达1 420个。黄缘蜾蠃在单根巢管内平均产2.50±1.25枚卵,构建非孵育室1.84±1.14个,其子代性比偏雄(雄∶雌=1.98∶1),并倾向于在巢管内端的孵育室产雌性卵,在外端的孵育室产雄性卵。结构方程模型分析结果显示,每根巢管的巢管内径和长度均显著地正影响孵育室数量,巢管长度也显著地正影响非孵育室数量,而孵育室数量和非孵育室数量均显著地负影响被寄生率。对子代在巢管内的性别排列模式进行meta分析表明,巢管最内端子代雌性数量显著高于最外端的,而巢管最内端孵育室的被寄生率显著低于最外端的。【结论】结果表明黄缘蜾蠃在寄生胁迫下通过在巢管内多产卵以降低被寄生风险,并可通过调节子代的性别分配模式以提高雌性子代的存活率,从而有助于提高其繁殖适合度。     

Factors affecting the reproductive biology of Melittobia digitata and failure to meet the sex ratio predictions of Hamilton's local mate competition theory

Melittobia digitata Dahms (Eulophidae, Tetrastichini), a species of parasitic wasp satisfying all of Hamilton's local mate competition requisites, does not exhibit the predicted change in sex ratio with increased foundress number. A multifactorial design was used to test how age, oviposition experience, feeding experience, mating, and foundress number affect host‐acceptance, number of offspring, and sex ratio of this species developing on honey bee pupae, Apis mellifera (L.) (Apidae, Apini). All factors significantly affected the time it took for oviposition to commence. Females oviposited soonest when they were 2 days old, mated, had previous feeding and oviposition experience, and were placed on hosts with multiple foundresses. Although the age difference between 2‐ and 5‐day‐old females is small, it significantly affected reproductive behavior. Age, mating, and foundress number were found to have an effect on sex ratio, however, the foundress effect was found to be a mathematical artifact of the limited host size. After correcting for this variable, females were found to have a constant sex ratio of approximately 0.05. Several 2‐way interactions between factors were revealed: age and experience, age and foundress number, age and mating, foundress number and experience, and foundress number and mating. One 3‐way interaction was found between age, mating, and foundress number. This study demonstrates that the sex ratio of M. digitata is not altered with increased foundresses, as predicted by Hamilton , and that slight changes in preconditioning may modify reproductive behavior.     

以冷冻和新鲜家蝇蛹为寄主的蝇蛹俑小蜂实验种群生命表参数比较

【目的】为了阐明以冷冻保存家蝇Musca domestica蛹为寄主对繁殖蝇蛹俑小蜂Spalangia endius的影响。【方法】本研究分别利用新鲜和-20℃冷冻保存的家蝇蛹为寄主,记录了小蜂日存活数、日后代数量和性别等,并分别构建了实验种群生命表,分析比较了两种类型家蝇蛹对小蜂寄生率、日后代数量和性比、生命表参数等的影响。【结果】与新鲜家蝇蛹为寄主时相比,小蜂在以冷冻蛹为寄主时寄生率、后代数量和雄性百分比均较低（P<0.01）,成蜂寿命和产卵期差异不大（P>0.05）。在以新鲜和冷冻家蝇蛹为寄主时,小蜂寄生率和后代数量均随日龄的增加而显著降低（P<0.01）;以新鲜和冷冻家蝇蛹为寄主时小蜂的净生殖率（R₀）分别为34.91和20.16,种群内禀增长率（r_m）分别为0.17和0.11,均以寄生新鲜家蝇蛹时较大（P<0.01）;在以冷冻家蝇蛹为寄主时,世代时间和种群倍增时间较以新鲜家蝇蛹为寄主时有所延长（P<0.01）。【结论】蝇蛹俑小蜂可以利用冷冻家蝇蛹为寄主完成生活史;在规模化繁殖蝇蛹俑小蜂时,使用冷冻方式保存家蝇蛹的方法具有重要价值。     

Egg load is a cue for offspring sex ratio adjustment in a fig‐pollinating wasp with male‐eggs‐first sex allocation

Fig‐pollinating wasps (Agaonidae) only reproduce within fig tree inflorescences (figs). Agaonid offspring sex ratios are usually female‐biased and often concur with local mate competition theory (LMC). LMC predicts less female‐bias when several foundresses reproduce in a fig due to reduced relatedness among intra‐sexually competing male offspring. Clutch size, the offspring produced by each foundress, is a strong predictor of agaonid sex ratios and correlates negatively with foundress number. However, clutch size variation can result from several processes including egg load (eggs within a foundress), competition among foundresses and oviposition site limitation, each of which can be used as a sex allocation cue. We introduced into individual Ficus racemosa figs single Ceratosolen fusciceps foundresses and allowed each to oviposit from zero to five hours thus variably reducing their eggs‐loads and then introduced each wasp individually into a second fig. Offspring sex ratio (proportion males) in second figs correlated negatively with clutch size, with males produced even in very small clutches. Ceratosolen fusciceps lay mainly male eggs first and then female eggs. Our results demonstrate that foundresses do not generally lay or attempt to lay a ‘fixed’ number of males, but do ‘reset to zero’ their sex allocation strategy on entering a second fig. With decreasing clutch size, gall failure increased, probably due to reduced pollen. We conclude that C. fusciceps foundresses can use their own egg loads as a cue to facultatively adjust their offspring sex ratios and that foundresses may also produce more ‘insurance’ males when they can predict increasing rates of offspring mortality.