Carry-over effects of larval food stress on adult energetics and life history in a nectar-feeding butterfly

Stressful juvenile developmental conditions can affect performance and fitness later in life. In holometabolous insects such as butterflies, development under stressful conditions may lead to smaller adult size, lower reproductive output and shorter lifespan. However, how larval developmental stress affects energy intake and expenditure in adult individuals is poorly understood.

We subjected last-instar larvae of Speyeria mormonia Edwards (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) to periodic dietary restriction (DR) to examine the allocation of energy and nutrients among different life-history processes. We measured adult food intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), metabolic flight capacity, lifespan, and reproductive output. Consistent with pressure to disperse from a poor environment while maintaining offspring number, we predicted that stressed individuals would have increased adult food intake and higher flight capacity.

Adult body size was strongly reduced. Contrary to predictions, we found ...