EFFECT OF STARVATION OF LARVAE OF VESPULA-VULGARIS (L) (HYMENOPTERA, VESPIDAE) ON SUBSEQUENT SURVIVAL AND ADULT SIZE

Variation in larval insect diet can influence later survival, adult si ze, and reproductive competitiveness, and has been proposed as a facto r regulating the population dynamics of wasps (Vespula spp.). Larvae o f V. vulgaris were starved to determine the influence of starvation on survival and adult size. Larvae pupated up to 16 days after starvatio n began. Those pupating after 6 days had lower survival rates than non -starved larvae. As the length of time to pupation increased, the size of emerging adults decreased. Although apparently morphologically nor mal, newly emerged, starved adults were only 56% of the weight of non- starved wasps. Variation in size caused by experimental starvation is similar in magnitude to that recorded in natural populations.