Data

We tested the combined impact of temperature and plant quality on the body size, and development time from egg to adult of Eccritotarsus eichhorniae (Hemiptera: Miridae), an herbivorous insect used as a biological control agent against the invasive aquatic weed, water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae).
We quantified insect size in individuals exposed to three temperatures (20°, 25° and 30°C) combined with three qualities of host plant (high, medium and low) by calculating development time and measuring four traits: tibia length, forewing length, dry body mass (DM) and lipid content (FC), and we also determined the wing loading index (WL).