SPLIT SEX RATIO DUE TO MATERNAL CONDITION

The data set describes the post-mating constrained sex allocation in Kelly’s citrus thrips, <i>Pezothrips kellyanus </i>(Thysanoptera: Thripidae). It demonstrates the results of three separate crossing experiments: experiment 1) analysis of mating effectiveness by dissection of spermathecae of mated females; experiment 2) test for the presence of a paternal sex ratio (PSR) element by assessing the sex ratio patterns in two successive generations, as well as the data for mating time and male size (forewing length) measurements; and experiment 3) analysis of effect of maternal fitness [female body size (forewing length) and size of eggs ovipositioned before mating] on sex ratio after mating. Mother types are categorised according to their mating status and their offspring sex ratio: virgins [V], constrained mated females producing male-biased broods (M-broods) [M(♂)] and unconstrained mated females, producing female biased broods (F-broods) [M(♀)]. The brood types of mated females are categorized as F and M denoting female-biased and male-biased brood types, respectively. According to the data, all <i>P.</i><i>kellyanus </i>mated females were successfully inseminated irrespective of their brood-types produced (experiment 1 – spreadsheet 1). M-brood production is not paternally inheritable: the prevalence of M-brood production was not different between matings that involved males produced by virgin and unconstrained mothers (experiment 2 – spreadsheets 2 and 3). Moreover, brood-type was not affected by mating duration and male size (experiment 2 – spreadsheets 4 and 5). Finally, the data reveals mother size and egg size (maternal effects) influence brood-type: smaller females (producing smaller eggs in virginity) are more likely to produce M-broods after mating. These results indicate that the constrained sex allocation in <i>P. kellyanus</i>is due to the maternal condition and the resource investment towards egg size.