Are ctenopelmatine eggs really large: eggs and ovaries of selected sawfly parasitoids

Ctenoplematine Ichneumonidae were sampled with malaise traps from February to May 2008 in College Station, Texas. All female ctenopelmatines were dissected and mature eggs were counted and measured. For comparison, eggs of selected Xorodinae, Labeninae, and Tryphoninae were also counted and measured. Egg size in ctenopelmatines was quite variable, but always smaller than eggs of Xorides and Labena, even after adjustment for body size. All ctenopelmatines were synovigenic, based on presence of gradually enlarging oocytes along the length of the ovarioles. Data on egg load is presented for several species, and their implications discussed.