NUMBER AND SIZE OF OOCYTES IN RELATION TO BODY-SIZE AND TIME OF DAY IN THE KLEPTOPARASITIC BEE NOMADA-LATHBURIANA (HYMENOPTERA, ANTHOPHORIDAE)

The relationships between the number of oocytes, size of oocytes, and body size were examined in a population of the kleptoparasitic bee Nom ada lathburiana (Kirby 1802) in Central Sweden. Most females have 5 ov arioles in each ovary with an average of 17.3 mature and nearly mature oocytes in both ovaries. The number and size of mature and nearly mat ure oocytes increase with bee body size. Females collected at differen t times of day do not differ in oocyte number. The size-related fecund ity in N. lathburiana might be of adaptive significance not only by th e enhanced capacity to lay more eggs, but also by the production of la rger larvae which may enjoy an increased survivorship.