106 
Psyche 
[March 
Discussion 
Odhiambo (1959) points out that broodguarding Hemiptera ex- 
hibit a strong tendency to remain with egg masses when they are 
disturbed in ways that in other situations would cause them to take 
flight. I found this to be true for Zelus males. 
A few direct observations and some circumstantial evidence in- 
dicate that broodguarding in Hemiptera helps to protect eggs from 
egg parasites (Odhiambo, 1959). I have tested this hypothesis for 
Zelus in two ways and the results of both tests strongly support the 
hypothesis. There is no evidence, such as that found by Eberhard 
(1975) in his study of egg guarding by pentatomid bugs, that the 
guarding male makes the eggs more vulnerable to certain parasites. 
My observation and an observation by Eberhard show that Zelus 
parental care continues during early nymphal life in the form of 
feeding and perhaps protection. 
Further study of Zelus broodguarding should be directed towards 
answering questions such as the following: What is the genetic rela- 
tionship between the males and the eggs which they guard? I would 
predict that the guarding male is the genetic father of at least some 
of the eggs he guards; otherwise there would be little or no selective 
advantage in the guarding behavior. How common is the parental 
feeding which was observed? Exactly how do the males react to 
real parasites and predators? How does the number and distribu- 
tion of egg masses affect egg rearing efficiency? 
Acknowledgments 
The author wishes to extend his thanks to the following: Dr. 
William Eberhard, University del Valle, Cali, Colombia, for his 
guidance and suggestions during the course of this study; Dr. Fred- 
erick Coyle, Western Carolina University, for helping to arrange 
this study and for his interest and help in writing this paper; J. L. 
Herring, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, 
U.S.A., for identifying Zelus; and P. M. Marsh, U. S. Department 
of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.A. for identifying Tele- 
nomus. 
References 
Eberhard, W. G. 
1975. The ecology and behavior of a subsocial pentatomid bug and two scelio- 
nid wasps: strategy and counter-strategy in a host and its parasites. 
Smithsonian Contrib. Zool. 205: 1-39. 
