Plastic responses of some life history traits and cellular components of body size in Aphidius ervi as related to the age of its host Acyrthosiphon pisum

摘要: Phenotypic plasticity of wing size and shape has been evaluated in Aphidius ervi developing its host, Acyrthosiphon pisum, parasitized at seven different ages. The parasitoid was used as an estimator both whole body cellular composition. No difference observed A. ervi adults emerged from aphids 1, 2 or 3 days old parasitization. Body then increased hosts older values related to host age parasitization were achieved by adjusting developmental time, rate both. Parasitoids similar size, but developed ages, had composition, while the increase a general cell area number. These results seem suggest trade-off between adult least for parasitoids two extremes ages parasitization, that can reach same via trajectories, adapting ontogenetic processes. Wing typical all classes considered differed strongly males females, independent their size. Parasitoid (haploids) females (diploids) did not differ either number, suggesting possible sex-determined dosage compensation somatic tissue endoreplication. © 2014 Linnean Society London, Biological Journal Society, 2014, 113, 439–454.