Taxonomic patterns in the egg to body size allometry of butter- flies and skippers (Papilionoidea & Hesperiidae)

Former studies have shown that there is an interspecific allometric relationship between egg size and adult body size in butterflies and skippers. This is here re-assessed at the family and subfamily levels in order to determine to what extent the overall trend is uniform through different taxonomic lineages. The results suggest that dif ferent subtaxa are characterised by different allometric slopes. Although statistical analysis across species means is known to be potentially misleading to assess evolutionary relations, it is shown that the comparison of apparent patterns (based on species means) with inferred evolutionary trends (based on independent contrasts) may help to understand the evolution of egg size in butterflies. Further, intuitive reconsideration of statistically non-significant results may prove informative. As an example, argumentation in favour of a positive association between large egg size and the use of monocotyledon plants as larval food is presented. Taxa where atypical allometric trends are found include the Riodininae and Theclini (Lycaenidae), the Graphiini (Papilionidae), and the Heliconiinae (Nymphalidae).