A novel use of immunomarking for studying the dispersal of woodboring beetles

Authors: GULA, SCOTT - Purdue University; LOPEZ, VANESSA - Us Forest Service (FS); RAY, ANN - Xavier University; Hagler, James; Machtley, Scott; GINZEL, MATTHEW - Purdue University

Submitted to: Journal of Forestry
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2020
Publication Date: 3/20/2020
Citation: Gula, S., Lopez, V., Ray, A., Hagler, J.R., Machtley, S.A., Ginzel, M. 2020. A novel use of immunomarking for studying the dispersal of woodboring beetles. Journal of Forestry. 118(2):210-211. https://doi.org/10.1093/jofore/fvz074.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jofore/fvz074

Interpretive Summary: Invasive woodboring beetles are among the most destructive pests of forests worldwide. The success of eradication efforts and quarantines to limit the spread of incipient populations of these pests is dependent on understanding their dispersal behavior. Most previous dispersal research involved capturing or rearing beetles en masse, marking them in the laboratory, releasing them in the field, and capturing them again. This process is labor intensive, time consuming, expensive, and human handling during the application of the mark can affect the behavior of the insects. There is a critical need for an affordable, efficient, and non-invasive marking technique to improve research on woodborer dispersal. We tested the efficacy of protein immunomarking, a technique developed by USDA-ARS researches in Maricopa, AZ, for use in understanding the dispersal of woodboring beetles. Specifically, we tested the extent to which a protein mark adheres to the cuticle of emerald ash borers as beetles emerge from protein-treated logs. This method has several advantages over traditional techniques including a low cost for both the protein and ELISA used to detect the protein, no need for mass rearing or capture, and the minimization of handling and disturbance to the beetles. In addition, we tested the extent to which proteins transfer from marked to unmarked beetles as well as the efficacy of various trapping methods. This novel use of protein immunomarking has potential as an effective and reliable marker for use in mark-capture and dispersal studies with buprestids, as well as other woodborers such as cerambycids and scolytids.

Technical Abstract: Invasive woodboring beetles are among the most destructive pests of natural and managed forests worldwide. The success of eradication efforts and quarantines to limit the spread of incipient populations of these pests is dependent on understanding their dispersal behavior. Most previous dispersal research involved capturing or rearing beetles en masse, marking them in the laboratory, releasing them in the field, and capturing them again. This process is labor intensive, time consuming, expensive, and human handling during the application of the mark can affect the behavior of the insects. There is a critical need for an affordable, efficient, and non-invasive marking technique to improve research on woodborer dispersal. We tested the efficacy of protein immunomarking for use in understanding the dispersal of woodboring beetles. Specifically, we tested the extent to which a protein mark adheres to the cuticle of emerald ash borers (Agrilus plannipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) as beetles emerge from protein-treated logs. This method has several advantages over traditional techniques including a low cost for both the protein and ELISA used to detect the protein, no need for mass rearing or capture, and the minimization of handling and disturbance to the beetles. In addition, we tested the extent to which proteins transfer from marked to unmarked beetles as well as the efficacy of various trapping methods. This novel use of protein immunomarking has potential as an effective and reliable marker for use in mark-capture and dispersal studies with buprestids, as well as other woodborers such as cerambycids and scolytids.