Data for: Oviposition fluids mediate larval competition

Parasitoid wasp larvae engage in intense interspecific competition when sharing a host insect, with lethal consequences for the losers. Larval parasitoid competition is generally thought to be resolved by physical traits, such as enlarged mandibles. Although solitary parasitoid larvae are typically superior competitors against gregarious larvae, such physical traits are unlikely to be effective against large numbers of competitors. Larval competition may instead be mediated by maternal factors that increase the survival of offspring facing interspecific competition, thus increasing parental fitness.
When laying eggs inside a host, many female parasitoids also inject oviposition fluids that are known to suppress host immune responses, permitting successful offspring development. We explored whether the oviposition fluids of two wasp species in the genus Cotesia (Cotesia rubecula, a strong competitor that almost always wins interspecific competition against a weaker competitor, Cotesia gl..., , , # Data for: Oviposition fluids mediate larval competition

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.37pvmcvrm](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.37pvmcvrm)

## Description of the data and file structure

Data set contains details, primarily counts, resulting from dissection of injected *P. rapae* caterpillar hosts.

Common abbreviations used:

* Cg = Cotesia glomerata
* Cr = Cotesia rubecula
* Treatment names: cv - calyx + venom, c - calyx only, cr - C. rubecula parasitized, pbs - pbs only, v - venom only
* CgL = C. glomerata larva

File descriptions (including column headers without clear titles):
\"CgCV injection data\" is dissection data from hosts injected with C. glomerata oviposition fluids and associated controls. Hosts were parasitized by C. rubecula

* Trt - injection treatment
* Rep - replicate number
* Cr present - y/n C. rubecula larva present
* Deform/dead - y if C. rubecula does not appear to be developing normally and alive

\"CrCV injection data\" is dissection data from hosts injected wi...