| Title | Reproductive strategies of two Philotrypesis species on Ficus hispida |
| Author | Zhai, Shu Wei |
| Publication | SYMBIOSIS |
| Year | 2008 |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 1-3 |
| Corresponding Author | Yang, DR |
| Abstract | Philotrypesis pilosa and Philotrypesis sp., the only non-pollinating fig wasps inhabiting the infloreseences of Ficus hispida, oviposited from outside the fig wall using their long ovipositors to reach the ovules inside. Both were inquilines of the pollinating wasps. However, each species of Philotrypesis has a different reproductive strategy. Foundresses of P. pilosa have higher reproductive potential in controlled experiments, but brood sizes were smaller than that of Philotrypesis sp. in the field. There was temporal segregation in the oviposition of species, and duration of oviposition was different. Their space distributions were similar; over 50% of individuals for both species were distributed in the ovule layer nearest the fig wall. There was a high degree of variation in the populations of both species in space and time. |
