Entomology Commons^™

Longevity And Fecundity Of Edovum Puttleri Grissell, With Notes On Its Effectiveness As A Biocontrol Agent In Tennessee, Nader M. Elkassabany

Masters Theses

In the laboratory, fecundity and longevity of Edovum puttleri Grissell (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were determined. Longevity was tested at two temperatures and with three different diets. The tested groups were mated females, virgin females, and males. Mean longevity was 17.9 ± 2.2 days, and parasite survival rate was highest under a combination of 24±1^oC and 50% water: 50% honey diet. Mean fecundity for each female was 1.9±0.2 eggs/24 hr and 40.8±4.8 eggs in 21 days. In the summer of 1986, field releases were made in Knoxville and Crossville to determine the effectiveness of the parasite as a biocontrol agent. …

Some Potential Evolutionary Costs Associated With Paternal Care In The Water Bug Belostoma Flumineum Say, Larry Johnson

Masters Theses

Female water bugs (Belostoma flumineum) deposit eggs in a mucilaginous cement on the back of conspecific males, who then brood these eggs until hatching. Sex role reversal, in which females compete for males and males are discriminating, is predicted in this species because males provide parental care exclusively, and represent a limited resource. Presumably the advantage of this paternal behavior is increased survival of young. However, the potential exists for this egg-brooding behavior to incur evolutionary costs, and quantifying some of these costs was the thrust of this study.

One cost, a loss of polygynous opportunity, was investigated …