ABSTRACT
In this study we describe a novel predator immunomarking technique that compliments an existing predator gut content enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii, prey remains. We marked commercially-purchased lady beetles, Hippodamia convergens, with either rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) or chicken IgG solution. The beetles marked with rabbit IgG were then released into a cotton field and those marked with chicken IgG were released into an adjacent cantaloupe field. The beetles were then recaptured with a vacuum collector 3, 7, and 14 days after release. We concurrently ran three ELISAs on each individual beetle collected. The first two ELISAs were run using commonly available anti-rabbit or anti-chicken antibodies to detect the presence of the immunomarkers. A third ELISA was run using an anti-whitefly egg specific monoclonal antibody for the presence of whitefly in the gut.
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