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Detection of shield beetle remains in predators using a monoclonal antibody
Author(s) -
Schenk D.,
Bacher S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2004.00820.x
Subject(s) - predation , biology , biological pest control , predator , larva , zoology , ecology
Cassida rubiginosa Muell. (Col., Chrysomelidae) is considered to be a native biocontrol agent of the creeping thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop, one of the world's worst weeds. However, predation is a major mortality factor in C. rubiginosa populations and prevents high beetle densities in nature. We determined temperature‐dependent detection periods of shield beetle remains within predators by immunological gut analysis, in order to define the time period within which predation must have occurred. We conducted feeding trials with the model predators Nabis mirmicoides Costa and Chrysopa carnea Stephen at two and three different temperatures, respectively, using C. rubiginosa larvae as prey. Indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine the predators for the presence of prey antigen. The monoclonal antibody (MAb) CRL5‐1 clearly identified predation by N. mirmicoides for up to 47 h and by C. carnea up to 96 h post‐feeding at 15°C. An exponential decay gave a good description of the antigen time course within predators. Calculated detection periods for the antigen were 234.7 h at 15°C and 85.0 h at 20°C in N. mirmicoides and 215.3 h (15°C), 91.9 h (20°C) and 79.1 h (25°C) in C. carnea . The reported detection periods of prey remains in predators are the longest known in immunology, and are much higher than the recently published detection periods of prey DNA in predators. Therefore MAb CRL5‐1 is a highly valuable tool for quantifying predation in the field.