Raw data for sexually selected traits and life history traits of major and minor males in the horned flour beetle Gnatocerus cornutus

1. Expression of weapons and weapon sizes are remarkably affected by
environmental factors in armed insects, resulting in remarkable
morphological difference in larger and smaller males i.e., male dimorphism
2. The phenotypic plasticity is one example of alternative mating
phenotypes. Selection on the alternative phenotype generates different
suites of multiple traits between larger and smaller males such as
morphology, behaviors and life history. The different subsets of traits
can contribute to reproductive success of larger and smaller males,
respectively. 3. In order to understand how alternative phenotypes evolve,
studies that couple differences in life history and reproductive traits
between larger and smaller males are required. Here we investigated
differences in morphology, behaviors, and life history in Gnatocerus
cornutus. 4. Larger males have relatively larger mandibles and the
advantage in male fighting to access females. Also, the developmental
period was significantly shorter in the larger males than in the smaller
males. 5. Smaller males with rudimentary weapons have higher locomotion
ability. This suggests higher performance in the dispersal to new
territories. Larger and smaller males showed different suites of multiple
traits, and the combinations of multiple traits are probably related to
expression of weapons.