The Effect of Resorbing Eggs Upon the Sex Ratio of the Offspring in Nasonia Vitripennis (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae)

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Abstract
1. The effect of availability of host puparis upon the sex ratio of the parasite Nasonia vitripennis has been studied. 2. When puparia are continuously available the percentage of males is 25%. When puparia are only intermittently available (for 1 hr. per day) the percentage of males increases significantly. 3. It is known that the eggs undergo resorption in females which have no access to host puparia, and it is suggested that the increase in the percentage of males is related to the increase in the number of eggs undergoing resorption in the ovarioles at the time of oviposition.