The evolutionary implications of the Temperature–Size Rule (TSR) in ectotherms is
debatable; it is uncertain whether size decrease with temperature increase is an adaptation …

Developmental plasticity can occur at any life stage, but plasticity that acts early in
development may give individuals a competitive edge later in life. Here, we asked if early …

Ultimate factors driving insect body size are rather well understood, while—apart from a few
model species—the underlying physiological and developmental mechanisms received less …

Juvenile growth trajectories evolve via the interplay of selective pressures on age and size
at maturity, and developmental constraints. In insects, the moulting cycle is a major …

Sex-specific mechanisms of the determination of insect body sizes are insufficiently
understood. Here we use the common heath moth, Ematurga atomaria (Lepidoptera …

Evolutionary studies on animal body size have primarily focussed on selective pressures
operating during the adult life. In contrast, ontogenetic pathways leading to differently sized …

Latitudinal and elevational trends in body size are found in numerous animal taxa, with
various adaptive explanations proposed. It is however debatable whether geographic trends …

During the winter, animals face limited food availability. Many animals enter dormancy to
reduce their winter energy expenditure. Most insects spend the winter in diapause, a state of …

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use pharate 1st instar quiescence to cope with fluctuations in
water availability hosting a fully developed 1st instar larvae within the chorion. The duration …

1. Prior to pupation, lepidopteran larvae enter a wandering phase lasting up to 30 h before
choosing a pupation site. Because stillness is important for concealment, this behaviour …