Sibling-competition
Guides
Pachysomoides stupidus
Pachysomoides stupidus is a gregarious ichneumon wasp that parasitizes paper wasps (Polistes spp.). Females lay multiple eggs on pre-pupal Polistes grubs, and larvae feed gregariously as external parasites on the pupa. The species exhibits larval competition among siblings for host resources, with males showing more altruistic behavior than females in resource allocation. Brood sex ratios are biased toward females, with investment ratios equalized by egg-layers.
Tarachodidae
bark mantises
Tarachodidae is a family of mantises commonly known as bark mantises, found in Africa and Asia. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with former subfamilies Caliridinae and Tarachodinae now reassigned to other families. The genus Galepsus, a primary representative of this family, has been studied for its distribution across Southern Africa and its life history traits. Research on Galepsus species has revealed distinctive reproductive strategies, including extended female longevity and extended intervals between ootheca production to reduce sibling competition.