Using a molecular marker that allows the differentiation of two strains of the solitary endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens, the study investigated the influence of host mass and the time interval between ovipositions on the survival and development of larvae from both the first and second laid eggs in superparasitised Ephestia kuehniella. As the time interval between ovipositions increased both overall and superparasitism success decreased, however, time between, and order of, ovipositions had little effect on other developmental parameters. Adult size increased with host mass under both parasitism and superparasitism, while host mortality decreased with host mass under superparasitism. In addition, wasps emerging from superparasitised hosts were larger than wasps from parasitised hosts. The results confirm that for V. canescens on the host E kuehniella both self- and conspecific-superparasitism will be an adaptive strategy when hosts are the limiting factor. [copyright] 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Biometrics; Reproduction; Reproductive behaviour; Life cycle and development; Development; Parasites diseases and disorders; Parasites; Insect parasites; Hosts; Insect hosts; Ecology; Population dynamics Ephestia kuehniella (Pyralidae); Weight; Hymenopteran parasites; Venturia canescens; Larval parasite development & survival, influences, superparasitized hosts Venturia canescens (Ichneumonidae); Egg laying; Oviposition intervals; Larval development; Lepidopteran hosts; Ephestia kuehniella; Larval development & survival, influences, superparasitized hosts; Survival none