The Dynamics in Trinidad of the Sphecid Wasp Trypoxylon palliditarse: A Thompsonian Population?

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Abstract
The organ-pipe mud wasp, T. palliditarse Saussure was found at 106 out of 140 suitable nesting sites in Trinidad, and retrospective estimates were made of fecundity and developmental mortality at 26 of them. Distribution was limited by high (> 2500 mm) and perhaps low (< 1750 mm) annual precipitation. Minimum fecundity decreased and developmental mortality from parasitoids increased with increasing precipitation, but overall mortality was low and unrelated to density. Real developmental mortality was 29.4%, minimum fecundity 9.5 .+-. 0.5 (mean .+-. 95% C.L.) eggs/female and the proportion of females at emergence 0.68 .+-. 0.13. There was no evidence of competition or resource limitation. Almost all females emigrated from their birthplace. Population regulation appears to be Thompsonian.