Individual Variation in Trophic Egg Production: Evidence for Maternal Manipulation in Response to Resource and Competition Levels

摘要: Females of the subsocial shield bug Parastrachia japonensis (Heteroptera: Parastrachiidae) incorporate trophic eggs (nutritive eggs) into their egg mass. Considerable variation occurs among females in number and proportion an mass that is composed eggs. Because are essential to development survival young, this could significantly impact female fitness. We tested hypothesis abundance induced by maternal phenotype (weight, body size) resource exposure. predicted limitations would cause produce fewer fertile more larger heavier each type. ovipositing early season exposed different conditions than those oviposit late. Thus, we compared production patterns between these two groups several other factors related nesting. No correlation was seen size abundance, or, indeed, production, overall; however, produced masses. Counter our prediction, late females, which had greater access food, total eggs, females. A binomial generalized linear model analysis indicated most correlated with percentage destined become were resulting from or oviposition, distance nest host tree, closer producing The findings support availability and, a lesser extent, affect abundance.