Clutch Size and Mating Frequency in Parasitic Hymenoptera

Abstract

A comparative review of 97 species of parasitic Hymenoptera reveals that solitary species (in which a female lays one egg in a host) tend to be monandrous, and gregarious species (in which a female lays several eggs in a host) tend to be polyandrous. Sib competition may be the reason: in gregarious species, more similar genotypes compete more closely, and diversification of progeny is more advantageous. The review also suggests that females in gregarious species have a higher total lifetime fecundity and live longer than do females in solitary species.