Effect of temperature on sexual size dimorphism during the developmental period in the broad-horned flour beetle

Adult size in numerous insects is strongly dependent on temperature. In several cases, a temperature–size rule is observed in which developmental temperature and adult size tradeoff. Although several previous studies have demonstrated the temperature–size rule, only a few have explored the relationship between developmental temperature and weapon traits or sexual size dimorphism. This study was conducted to investigate the size of the broad-horned flour beetle Gnatocerus cornutus when it was developed under different temperatures. G. cornutus males possess weapon traits for male–male combat and exhibit sexual size dimorphism in other morphological traits. Results showed that male weapon size and body size complied with the temperature–size rule. Furthermore, the extent of sex dimorphism in genae width, a weapon-supportive trait, were larger at lower temperatures. Our findings suggest that the temperature–size rule also influences the size of sexual traits. •A temperature–size rule is observed in which developmental temperature and adult size tradeoff.•Male weapon and weapon-supportive traits size are also complied with the temperature–size rule.•The intensity of sex difference in weapon and weapon-supportive traits size increased at lower temperatures.•The temperature–size rule also significantly influences the sexual size dimorphism.