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Science 21 August 1987:
Vol. 237. no. 4817, pp. 903 - 905
DOI: 10.1126/science.237.4817.903
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Articles

Short Interval Time Measurement by a Parasitoid Wasp

J. M. SCHMIDT 1 and J. J. B. SMITH 1

1 Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S lAl, Canada.

The number of eggs laid by the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma varies with host volume. The duration of the wasp's initial transit across the host surface during host examination is used to determine the number of eggs laid. A 2.5-second reduction in initial transit resulted in a 30% reduction in eggs oviposited, demonstrating that these wasps measure short time intervals. This measure is used for progeny allocation independent of host body size.

Submitted on March 4, 1987
Accepted on June 1, 1987


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)