DOI: 10.5061/dryad.f5cf448
title: Data from: The influence of ecological and life history factors on ectothermic temperature-size responses: analysis of three Lycaenidae butterflies (Lepidoptera)

description: Body size has been shown to decrease with increasing temperature in many
 species, prompting the suggestion that it is a universal ecological
 response. However, species with complex life cycles, such as
 holometabolous insects, may have correspondingly complicated
 temperature-size responses. Recent research suggests that life history and
 ecological traits may be important for determining the direction and
 strength of temperature-size responses. Yet, these factors are rarely
 included in analyses. Here, we aim to determine if the size of the
 bivoltine butterfly, Polyommatus bellargus, and the univoltine
 butterflies, Plebejus argus and Polyommatus coridon, change in response to
 temperature and whether these responses differ between the sexes, and for
 P. bellargus, between generations. Forewing length was measured using
 digital specimens from the Natural History Museum, London (NHM), from one
 locality in the UK per species. The data were initially compared to annual
 and seasonal temperature values, without consideration of life history
 factors. Sex and generation of the individuals and mean monthly
 temperatures, which cover the growing period for each species, were then
 included in analyses. When compared to annual or seasonal temperatures
 only, size was not related to temperature for P. bellargus and P. argus,
 but there was a negative relationship between size and temperature for P.
 coridon. When sex, generation and monthly temperatures were included, male
 adult size decreased as temperature increased in the early larval stages,
 and increased as temperature increased during the late larval stages.
 Results were similar but less consistent for females, while second
 generation P. bellargus showed no temperature-size response. In P.
 coridon, size decreased as temperature increased during the pupal stage.
 These results highlight the importance of including life history factors,
 sex and monthly temperature data when studying temperature-size responses
 for species with complex life cycles.
description: Polyommatus
 bellargusForewing lengths
 measured for NHM iCollections specimens of the Adonis Blue (Polyommatus
 bellargus) from Folkestone. The data file also includes the ID number
 (given by the museum), the sex of each specimen, which generation the
 specimen is from and the associated temperature values for the years in
 which they were collected (SST=average spring-summer temperature,
 AMT=annual mean temperature). Images were measured using ImageJ software,
 and high resolution images were provided to us by the Natural History
 Museum (London). Temperature data was obtained from the UK Meteorological
 Office
 (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/datasets).Polyommatus_bellargus.xlsxPlebejus argusForewing lengths measured for NHM iCollections specimens of the Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) from the New Forest. The data file also includes the ID number (given by the museum), the sex of each specimen and the associated temperature values for the years in which they were collected (SST=average spring-summer temperature, AMT=annual mean temperature). Images were measured using ImageJ software, and high resolution images were provided to us by the Natural History Museum (London). Temperature data was obtained from the UK Meteorological Office (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/datasets).Plebejus_argus.xlsxPolyommatus coridonForewing lengths measured for NHM iCollections specimens of the Chalk Hill Blue (Polyommatus coridon) from Therfield Heath. The data file also includes the ID number (given by the museum), the sex of each specimen and the associated temperature values for the years in which they were collected (SST=average spring-summer temperature, AMT=annual mean temperature). Images were measured using ImageJ software, and high resolution images were provided to us by the Natural History Museum (London). Temperature data was obtained from the UK Meteorological Office (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/datasets).Polyommatus_coridon.xlsx