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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #239848
Title: Pinpointing Predation Events: A different molecular approach.

Author
item Hagler, James
item GROVES, RUSSELL - University Of Wisconsin
item JOHNSON, MARSHALL - University Of California
item MORGAN, DAVID - California Department Of Food And Agriculture

Submitted to: International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) protein marking system has been developed as a diagnostic tool for quantifying predation rates via gut content analysis. A field study was conducted to quantify predation rates on each of the GWSS lifestages. Specifically, two GWSS nymphs and two adults were marked with rabbit IgG, chicken IgG, milk protein, or soy protein; respectively, and then released into field cages containing various predator species. In turn, the stomach contents of every predator in each cage were examined by four different protein-specific assays to quantify predation rates on GWSS.

Technical Abstract: A glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis, protien marking system has been developed as a diagnostic tool for quantifying predation rates via gut content analysis. A field study was conducted to quantify predation rates on each of the GWSS lifestages. Specifically, two GWSS nymphs and two adults were marked with rabit IgG, chicken IgG, milk protien, or soy protein and then released into field cages containing a know assemblage of predators. Additionally, a sentinel GWSS egg mass was placed in each cage. In turn, the stomach contents of every predator in each cage was examined by four different protein-specific ELISAs and aGWSS egg specific ELISA to detect for the presence of the targeted prey items. Here we represent the results obtained for two of the predators examined; the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens and the praying mantis, Stagmomantis carolina. ELISA results indicated that two of the nine praying mantids examined fed on a single GWSS adult while five of the 78 lady beetles fed on a single GWSS adult and nymph, respectively. There was no GWSS egg predation detected and none of the predators consumed multiple GWSS prey.