Relationship beteween sexes in a pear-slug population Caliroa cerasi (L.) (Hymenoptera: Tentheredinidae) in Valdivia

Abstract

The presence of males in a pear-slug population in Valdivia is for first time reported in Chile. The sex ratio was found to be 1.27 – 98.73 males to females, thus showing a highly female-biased population. Results obtained show that C cerasi reproduce predominantly by thelytoky parthenogenesis in Valdivia. Possible mechanisms that explain the reduced presence of males are discussed.