Unusual Sex Allocation in a Solitary Parasitoid Wasp, \u3ci\u3eSphaeropthalma Pensylvanica\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

Sphaeropthalma pensyluanica reared from cocoons of the organ pipe mud dauber, Trypoxylon politum from Georgia over several years yielded only adult males. Possible explanations for this sex-biased emergence from this host are (1) obligatory heteronomous heterotrophy, in which the two sexes develop on entirely different hosts; (2) differential mortality in the immature stage, with female larvae dying during development; and (3) facultative size- dependent sex allocation, with female eggs laid only on hosts smaller than T. politum

The Wasps. Howard E. Evans and Mary Jane West Eberhard, with drawings by Sarah Landry. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1970. vi, 265 pp. Paper, $3.45.

Excerpt: This pocket-sized book is indeed a high point in recent entomological literature. Concisely written, and including a remarkable amount of new or recently published information, The Wasps is essentially a comparative natural history of these fascinating animals. Only the higher or aculeate wasps are covered, a fact not clear from the title. After a brief survey of the Hymenoptera, five chapters follow: two on solitary species, two on social wasps, and a fascinating final chapter treating the diverse and often intricate biotic relationships of wasps. The book is generously illustrated, with 122 figures about equally divided between ph~tographs and drawings; several photographs of tropical social wasps appear here for the fmt time. The University of Michigan Press is to be commended, as the book is virtually free of typographical errors, and the photographic reproductions are of the highest quality

The Malaise Trap: Its Utility and Potential for Sampling Insect Populations

Slightly over three decades have elapsed since Malaise (1937) first published plans for the insect trap now bearing his name a stationary mesh tent with open sides, a central baffle, and a top-mounted collecting apparatus (Fig. 1). A non-attractant device, the Malaise trap is based upon the observation that most flying insects hitting an obstacle respond by flying (or crawling) upward (and thus into captivity). In recent years, the Malaise trap has become increasingly popular among insect taxonomists and collectors as a means of augmenting catch and collecting rare or ephemeral representatives. Many variations have been developed (e.g., Townes, 1962; Gressitt and Gressitt, 1962; Marston, 1965; Chanter, 1965; Butler, 1965), most aimed at making the trap more portable and/or efficient for collecting a particular insect group. To date, however, the Malaise trap has received little notice among other biologists, although it would appear to have considerable potential in almost any field study involving flying insects, and particularly in ecological investigations

Development and Sex Ratio of \u3ci\u3eMelittobia Australica\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eM. Digitata\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on \u3ci\u3eMegachile Rotundata\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and \u3ci\u3eTrypoxylon Politum\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Life history, development time, and sex ratio of Melittobia australica Girault and M. digitata Dahms on Megachile rotundata (Fabricius) and Trypoxylon politum Say are presented and compared with previous reports. Total development time and sex ratio differs slightly among the different hosts but falls within the expected range reported for different hosts and Melittobia species. The slightly longer development times and higher proportion of males recorded for both species on M. rotundata hosts probably reflects poorer host nutritional quality, relative to T. politum. We confirm that the one unusually extended development time reported by Schmieder for Melittobia chalybii Ashmead collected in New Jersey, can be accounted for as likely having represented a previously unknown species since described as M. femorata Dahms

Female Fighting and Host Competition Among Four Sympatric Species of \u3ci\u3eMelittobia\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Melittobia is a genus of parasitic wasps well known for high levels of inbreeding and violent male combat. Casual observations of groups of sisters of M. femorata placed with hosts revealed a surprising incidence of body mutilations (broken or missing tarsi, antennae, and wings). Replicated conspecific groups of 1, 2, or 3 females of M. femorata, M. digitata, and M. australica and interspecific groups of M. femorata and M. australica (2:1) were observed over their first 10 days in newly established cultures, and the incidence of mutilation was recorded. In some groups females were dye-fed, allowing us to subsequently chart their individual activity patterns on or near the host based on patterns of their colored fecal droppings. For M. australica and M. digitata, no conspecific females in any group size ever showed mutilation. However, in M. femorata nearly 3/4ths of the females in conspecific groups of two or three acquired body damage beginning about the time of first oviposition on the host. In 4 of 5 replicates of the interspecific groups, M. femorata females killed the female of M. australica. Patterns of dyed fecal droppings that developed over several days showed that individual females in groups of both M. femorata and M. australica increasingly restricted their activities to a small portion of the host. These “micro” territories were non-overlapping and appeared to be actively defended. In contrast, M. digitata females in groups never displayed obvious territoriality or interference. Possible reasons for these differences in female behavior are discussed

Report on the City of Chattahoochee Hill Country. Potential Revenues and Expenditures - Brief

Using Fulton County revenue and expenditure data and benchmarks developed from other Georgia city data, this report evaluates the fiscal consequences of incorporating a new city of Chattahoochee Hill Country. FRC Brief 16

Report on the City of Chattahoochee Hill Country. Potential Revenues and Expenditures

Using Fulton County revenue and expenditure data and benchmarks developed from other Georgia city data, this report evaluates the fiscal consequences of incorporating a new city of Chattahoochee Hill Country. FRC Report 16

Female Fighting and Host Competition Among Four Sympatric Species of \u3ci\u3eMelittobia\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Melittobia is a genus of parasitic wasps well known for high levels of inbreeding and violent male combat. Casual observations of groups of sisters of M. femorata placed with hosts revealed a surprising incidence of body mutilations (broken or missing tarsi, antennae, and wings). Replicated conspecific groups of 1, 2, or 3 females of M. femorata, M. digitata, and M. australica and interspecific groups of M. femorata and M. australica (2:1) were observed over their first 10 days in newly established cultures, and the incidence of mutilation was recorded. In some groups females were dye-fed, allowing us to subsequently chart their individual activity patterns on or near the host based on patterns of their colored fecal droppings. For M. australica and M. digitata, no conspecific females in any group size ever showed mutilation. However, in M. femorata nearly 3/4ths of the females in conspecific groups of two or three acquired body damage beginning about the time of first oviposition on the host. In 4 of 5 replicates of the interspecific groups, M. femorata females killed the female of M. australica. Patterns of dyed fecal droppings that developed over several days showed that individual females in groups of both M. femorata and M. australica increasingly restricted their activities to a small portion of the host. These “micro” territories were non-overlapping and appeared to be actively defended. In contrast, M. digitata females in groups never displayed obvious territoriality or interference. Possible reasons for these differences in female behavior are discussed

Report on the City of South Fulton: Potential Revenue and Expenditures (Revised)

This report evaluates the fiscal consequences of incorporating a new city of South Fulton, using Fulton County revenue and expenditure data and benchmarks from other Georgia cities. FRC Report 16

Report on the City of South Fulton: Potential Revenue and Expenditures (Revised) - Brief

This report evaluates the fiscal consequences of incorporating a new city of South Fulton, using Fulton County revenue and expenditure data and benchmarks from other Georgia cities. FRC Brief 16