The influence of a crowded environment on the size of males ofCaloglyphus berlesei(Acari: Acaridae)

Abstract

Abstract The growth of males of Caloglyphus berlesei was inhibited in crowded cultures. The earlier they were isolated from a crowded stock culture during the development, the larger was their final size. Males isolated as larvae grew larger than the ones isolated as nymphs. Pleomorphic males isolated at the protonymph stage were larger than bimorphic males isolated as tritonymphs, but there was no significant difference in size between the two male morphs when they were isolated as larvae and developed together in small groups.