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Life strategy and mortality factors of Sceliphron laetum (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in Australia
Author(s) -
SMITH ANDREW
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
australian journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 0307-692X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1979.tb01208.x
Subject(s) - sphecidae , nest (protein structural motif) , predation , pupa , ecology , biology , hymenoptera , population , economic shortage , life history , table (database) , larva , demography , biochemistry , linguistics , computer science , data mining , philosophy , sociology , government (linguistics)
Mortality factors and life‐history strategy central to the population dynamics of a common Australian mud‐daubing wasp Sceliphron laetum have been determined by the examination of remains left behind in mud nests. A life table has been constructed for the species and details of its life cycle, parasites and predators are presented. Results suggest that the effort involved in nest construction is rewarded by a very low egg, larval and pupal mortality, and that the population size may be limited by a shortage of suitable nesting sites.