Abstract
Abstract. 1 Regressions of adult insect size on host size were tested. The analysis was restricted to highly host-specific insects that had thus been exposed to a narrow range of host size. 2 The phylogenetic regression method was used to analyse the data, so as to allow for the possible phylogenetic effects in cross-species data. 3 Significant positive regressions were found in all the groups tested: female flower thrips, Meligethes species of pollen beetle, tephritid flies, and male and female fleas. They were also found by standard regressions within. and between Actornithophilus species of bird louse. 4 The regression of thrips size on pollen size was not significant, providing evidence against a hypothesis involving food size. 5 The regression of flea body size on host hair/feather length was significant, which is consistent with a hypothesis involving the size of spaces on the host. 6 The relationships may have implications for the understanding of evolutionary host shifts.
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