Seed predation is pervasive in tropical forest systems and an important cause of reproductive loss for many plant species. This can have a strong selective force on plants to increase defenses against seed predators. On the other hand, insects that are obligate seed predators must evolved mechanism to match those of their host plant, including phenology and behavior. Theoretical models predict that females should maximize their fitness by selecting optimal oviposition sites while minimizing intraspecific competition on her progeny. Seed predation is then an important antagonistic interaction that can drive coevolutionary dynamics. Still, relatively little information exists about the temporal and spatial variation of these traits. The interactions between the palm Attalea phalerata and its obligate seed predator Pachymerus cardo provide a system to test this model. Their interactions vary from one locality to another, making the ecological and evolutionary outcomes, as well as the adaptive processes that drive them, geographically structured. We studied the spatial and temporal variation of indirect and direct fitness traits of Pachymerus cardo across five localities in Bolivia with a nested experimental design (Location: Population: Individual Palm). At the lowest level of the design (individual palm) we placed two trays each with 25 newly ripened and cleaned endocarps. Total number of eggs was recorded four days later. 
Results/Conclusions

Oviposition, egg distribution, and emergence varied significantly across the Bolivian lowlands. Pachymerus’ infestation rates ranged from 21% to 96% depending on locality. Adult emergence was consistent across the landscape with rates ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 adults per endocarp, and more significantly, was independent of initial oviposition densities. Spatial egg distributions were highly clumped, and contradict the predictions of the optimal oviposition theory. Possible explanations are that Pachymerus females are optimal bad mothers, or are foraging with incomplete information.