Phenotypic variation in male <i>Calopteryx splendens</i> damselflies: the role of wing pigmentation and body size in thermoregulation

Abstract For ectothermic insects, their colour and size are important determinants of body temperature: larger bodies require more heat to reach a certain temperature, dark colours absorb efficiently. These expressed using melanin, which has been intimately linked with the thermoregulatory capabilities insects. Melanin is also immune defence often used as secondary sexual character in There potential trade-off situation between capabilities, characters, all use melanin. Some Calopteryx damselflies, such splendens, have melanin-based wing pigmentation that sexually selected drives intra- interspecific territorial aggression. Our goal was study experimentally how C. splendens males affect thermoregulation and, especially, ability become active (hereafter, ‘activate’) after being cooled down. results were line our hypotheses, showing individuals spots had significantly faster activation times than those smaller spots, slower size. Both variables showed an interaction therefore damselfly warm-up activation. We discuss role behavioural patterns observed species.