Early adaptation to an unusual host in the bean weevil <em>Zabrotes subfasciatus</em> is associated with changes in body size and reproductive physiology

Host shifts can present unique challenges and exert selective pressures that influence the evolutionary trajectory of phytophagous insect species. In Bruchinae beetles, which are highly specialized feeders on Fabaceae plants, host shifts are often linked to changes in life-history traits and are typically accompanied by reduced fitness. Since fitness is closely tied to reproductive success, morphophysiological traits such as body size, gonadal development, and the expression of vitellogenic genes may serve as indicators of how well a population adapts to a novel host. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a short-term selection experiment (12 generations) involving the use of an atypical host, Cicer arietinum (chickpea), by the bean weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman 1833) (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae: Amblycerini). We estimated eight body measures, assessed the development of ovaries and testes, and quantified the expression of vitellogenin (vg) and vitellogenin receptor (vgR) genes in..., , # Early adaptation to an unusual host in the bean weevil *Zabrotes subfasciatus* is associated with changes in body size and reproductive physiology Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.qbzkh18w6](10.5061/dryad.qbzkh18w6) ## Description of the data and file structure **Body measures:** For measurement, individuals were positioned in dorsal and lateral views under a stereomicroscope (Zeiss - Stemi 305) and photographed using a 5 MP camera (ZEISS Axiocam 105 color) at 30x magnification. Scale bars were added to the photographs using the ZEN program (Zeiss, version 3.8) and analyzed with Photoshop software (version 25.3.1) (Adobe Inc., 2024) using the measurement tool. The defined scale was 341 pixels to 500 µm. The measurements analysed for males and females were: body length, body width, body thickness, elytra length, abdomen length, length of the abdomen not covered by elytra, pronotum length, and pronotum width. **Gonad measures:** Ovaries and testicles went through the DAPI-phallodin stain...,寄主转换会带来独特的生存挑战，并施加选择压力，进而影响植食性昆虫物种的进化路径。在专性取食豆科（Fabaceae）植物的豆象亚科（Bruchinae）甲虫类群中，寄主转换往往伴随生活史特征的改变，且通常伴随着适合度的下降。由于适合度与繁殖成功率紧密关联，诸如体型大小、性腺发育以及卵黄原蛋白基因表达等形态生理特征，可作为种群适应新寄主能力的有效指示指标。为验证这一假说，我们开展了一项为期12代的短期选择实验，以非典型寄主鹰嘴豆（Cicer arietinum）为食料，供试昆虫为菜豆象（Zabrotes subfasciatus，Boheman 1833）（叶甲科Chrysomelidae：豆象亚科Bruchinae：Amblycerini族）。我们量化了8项体型测量指标，评估了卵巢与睾丸的发育状态，并定量检测了卵黄原蛋白（vitellogenin, vg）及卵黄原蛋白受体（vitellogenin receptor, vgR）基因的表达水平…… # 菜豆象*Zabrotes subfasciatus*对非常规寄主的早期适应与体型及繁殖生理变化相关 数据集DOI: [10.5061/dryad.qbzkh18w6](10.5061/dryad.qbzkh18w6) ## 数据与文件结构说明 **体型指标测量**：测量前，将个体置于体背与体侧视角下，在体视显微镜（蔡司Stemi 305）下观察，采用500万像素相机（蔡司Axiocam 105 color）以30倍放大倍率拍摄照片。使用ZEN软件（蔡司，版本3.8）为照片添加比例尺，随后通过Photoshop软件（版本25.3.1，奥多比公司，2024）的测量工具完成数据分析。本次标定的比例尺为341像素对应500微米。本研究针对雌雄个体共分析8项测量指标：体长、体宽、体厚、鞘翅长、腹部长、鞘翅未覆盖的腹部长、前胸背板长以及前胸背板宽。 **性腺指标测量**：卵巢与睾丸经DAPI-鬼笔环肽染色处理……