STARVATION STUDIES WITH THE PARASITIC WASP HABROBRACON

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Abstract
Survival time for starved wasps of a given sex is correlated with size. In complete starvation females live longer than males of equal size. These principles become more obvious at lower temps. of storage. Wt. is lost chiefly from the abdominal region which ultimately is extremely flattened dorsoventrally. Histological study shows that the developing and mature eggs in females function as reserves, in addition to the "fat" cells utilized by both sexes. At 30-35[degree]C, utilization of mature eggs is apparent after the first two days of adult life and sorption of developing eggs occurs during the last few days (oldest survivors expired on day 10 after eclosion). A different basis for metabolic processes is postulated as an explanation for differences in longevity between the sexes and a difference in rate of metabolism is suggested for different sized wasps of the same sex.
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