Few, small, and male: Multiple effects of reduced nest space on the offspring of the solitary wasp, Euodynerus (Pareuodynerus) posticus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Abstract

The size of the preexisting wood cavities used as nests by aculeate Hymenoptera is expected to have consequences on fitness parameters such as offspring number and size. We evaluated the consequences of using small and large (three-times more voluminous) trap-nests by the solitary wasp, Euodynerus (Pareuodynerus) posticus (Herrich-Schaeffer). Following life-history and sex allocation theories, a number of non-mutually exclusive hypotheses were formulated: i.e. small nests either produce smaller or fewer offspring and/or more males, the cheaper sex. Wasps built about 28% more, but shorter brood cells in large nests, although their volume was still much higher in large nests. Adult males had smaller body size in small nests, but female size did not differ between large and small nests, possibly as an adaptive response against the future higher foraging costs of size-reduced females. Sex-ratio was often biased towards males in small nests. Mortality did not differ between large and small nests. We conclude that E. (P.) posticus females would benefit from using larger nests, but that the sex-ratio would be probably overall unbalanced if females would not use also smaller, male-oriented tunnels.