Sex-ratio control in a parasitic wasp, Nasonia vitripennis. II. Experimental analysis of an optimal sex-ratio model.

Abstract

An optimal theory of facultative sex-ratio adjustment was tested using the data from a series of sequential oviposition experiments. Sex ratios produced by several genotypes in previously parasitized hosts differ significantly from the theoretical prediction. In addition, there is more variance of these 'second' sex ratios than would be generated purely by sampling. An alternative model of sex-ratio determination is based upon an imperfect ability of 2nd females to detect previous parasitization. -from Author