Reproduction of bacteria-infected spider mites. Zoologists in Japan investigated the reproductive traits of spider mites with a bacterial infection (Heredity, Jan. 2007). Male and female pairs of infected spider mites were mated in a laboratory and the number of eggs produced by each female recorded. Summary statistics for several samples are provided in the accompanying table. Note that, in some samples, one or both infected spider mites were treated with antibiotic prior to mating.

a. For each type of female–male pair, construct and interpret a 90% confidence interval for the population mean number of eggs produced by the female spider mite.

b. Identify the type of female–male pair that appears to produce the highest mean number of eggs.

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Female- Standard Male Pairs Sample Size Mean # of Eggs Deviation Both untreated 29 20.9 3.34 Male treated 23 20.3 3.50 Female treated 18 22.9 4.37 Both treated 21 18.6 2.11