Size–specific defensive structures in a horned weevil confirm a classic battle plan: avoid fights with larger opponents

Abstract

A rigid sheath that extends deep into the prothorax of male Parisoschoenus expositus serves to receive the horns of opponents in battles over females. The male cannot use his own horn unless he receives his opponent's horn in his sheath. The length of a male's sheath is always approximately equal to the length of his own horns, so his body design is appropriate only for horn-locking battles with males whose horns are equal to or shorter than his own. Horn length and sheath length are dimorphic with respect to each other and to an indicator of body size. The switch points between morphs are very nearly the same for several relationships, so the different aspects of fighting morphology are tightly coordinated.