Life-history responses of the fall webworm Hyphantria cunea to temperature change: Not following the temperature–size rule
Data files
Sep 26, 2025 version files 340.64 KB
Abstract
Temperature serves as a critical environmental factor for ectotherms and significantly impacts numerous life history traits. This study examined the influence of temperature on life-history traits of the fall webworm Hyphantria cunea at 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 °C. There were no significant differences in larval survival rates across the temperatures tested. However, pupal survival at 28 °C was significantly lower compared to other temperatures. Sex ratios remained consistent at 20–26 °C but skewed toward males at 28 °C. The developmental time from egg to adult decreased as the temperature rose, with males emerging earlier than females (protandry), primarily due to shorter larval stages. Pupal weight exhibited temperature- and sex-dependent trends: female pupae peaked at 22°C (184.6 mg) and there was a 9.2% increase at 28 °C as compared with 20 °C, demonstrating a reverse temperature-size rule. In contrast, male pupal weight decreased by 8.2% at 28 °C, indicating greater thermal sensitivity. Growth rates increased with temperature, showing sex-specific variations at lower temperatures. Adult weight mirrored pupal trends, with females consistently larger than males. Metamorphic weight loss increased with temperature in both sexes, but males experienced more pronounced losses. Female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is inclined to increase along with weight gain and temperature, not conforming to the Rensch’s rule. Furthermore, positive relationships were discovered between pupal weight and larval development time, and between adult weight and fecundity. These findings emphasize temperature-driven plasticity in development, SSD, and thermal tolerance, highlighting the species’ adaptability to warming climates and its implications for pest management strategies.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5qfttdzkk
Description of the data and file structure
This study investigates how temperature affects life-history traits of the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), an invasive pest moth. We examined development time, survival, body weight, growth rate, sexual size dimorphism (SSD), and fecundity across five constant temperatures (20–28 °C). Results reveal sex-specific responses to temperature, with females showing a reverse temperature–size rule and males exhibiting higher thermal sensitivity. The dataset includes individual-level life-history data and reproductive metrics, supporting findings on protandry, SSD, and fecundity advantages.
Two Excel files are supplied:
File-1 = individual life-table raw measurements;
File-2 = paired reproductive outputs of mated females.
All work was conducted under constant photoperiod (L:D 15:9 h) and 70 ± 15 % RH except the mating/oviposition phase (see paper).
Files and variables
File: Life-history_original_data_of_Hyphantria_cunea.xls
Records: 2,485 individual larvae/pupae/adults
Variables & abbreviations (column headers exactly as in file):
| Variable | Unit / code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature (°C) | °C | Constant rearing temperature treatment |
| Sex | ♀ / ♂ | Determined at adult emergence |
| Number | integer | Running individual ID within temperature & sex |
| Group | e.g. “20-1” | Rearing box (random effect, 6 boxes per temperature) |
| Larval time (d) | days | Egg-hatch → prepupa |
| Pupal time (d) | days | Prepupa → adult eclosion |
| Pupal weight (mg) | mg | Fresh mass ≤ 24 h after pupation |
| Growth rate (ln mg d⁻¹) | ln(mg)/d | ln(pupal weight) / larval time |
| Adult weight (mg) | mg | Fresh mass after meconium release |
| Weight loss (%) | % | 100 × \[1 – (adult weight / pupal weight)] |
File: Reproductive_biology_original_data_of_Hyphantria_cunea.xls
Records: 196 successfully mated females (30 pairs per temp., final numbers reflect mortality & mating failure)
Variables & abbreviations:
| Variable | Unit / code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature (º C) | °C | Same constant rearing temperature as above |
| Female pupal weight (mg) | mg | Pupal mass of the focal female (same weighing protocol) |
| Female adult weight (mg) | mg | Adult mass of the same female |
| Male pupal weight (mg) | mg | Pupal mass of the male partner (not always the sire, but paired) |
| Male adult weight (mg) | mg | Adult mass of the same male |
| Preoviposition period (d) | days | Adult emergence → first egg laid |
| Oviposition period (d) | days | First → last egg laid |
| Longevity of female (d) | days | Adult lifespan of the focal female |
| Longevity of male (d) | days | Adult lifespan of the paired male |
| Fecundity (eggs/female) | count | Total eggs laid by the female during her lifetime |
Code/software
Software Required to View Data
All data files provided in this submission are standard tab-delimited text files in .xls format (Excel 97-2003 Workbook). These can be opened using any of the following free or open-source software:
- Microsoft Excel Viewer (for Windows users who do not have Excel installed)
- LibreOffice Calc (version 7.5 or later; cross-platform, open-source)
- Apache OpenOffice Calc (version 4.1 or later; cross-platform, open-source)
- Google Sheets (web-based, free with a Google account)
- R (version 4.2.0 or later) with the readxl package (version 1.4.0 or later) for programmatic access
Software Used for Analysis
All statistical analyses described in the manuscript were performed using:
- IBM SPSS Statistics (version 22.0)
- Used for: Linear mixed models, ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD post hoc tests, t-tests, linear regression, and nonparametric tests as described in the Methods section.
- No custom scripts or syntax files are included; all analyses were conducted using the SPSS GUI.
Workflow Summary
- Raw data were entered and organized in Excel (.xls) files.
- Data were imported into SPSS 22.0 for statistical analysis.
- Figures were generated using SPSS output and refined in Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Illustrator.
- No custom code or scripts are included in this submission.
File-Software Relationship
- Life-history original data of Hyphantria cunea.xls and Reproductive biology original data of Hyphantria cunea.xls are raw data files.
- These files can be opened directly in any of the spreadsheet software listed above.
- No preprocessing or scripting is required to view or use the data.