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PRECIPITIN TEST FOR EXAMINING PREDATOR–PREY INTERACTIONS IN SOYBEAN FIELDS1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Wayne A. Gardner ,
Merle Shepard  and
Raymond Noblet
Wayne A. Gardner
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631
Merle Shepard
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631
Raymond Noblet
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631
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Abstract

Precipitin test techniques were utilized for the identification of predators on three lepidopteran pests—Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, Heliothis zea (Boddie), and Pseudoplusia includens (Walker). The test was sensitive enough to detect these prey in a whole-body extract of one small predator or from a midgut extract of larger predators. Some cross-reactivity among the prey antigens was found which limited somewhat the applicability of the test. However, test results from field-collected predators indicated the precipitin test is a simple and rapid technique which can be used to evaluate the number of encounters between predators and prey in soybean fields.

Résumé

Le test de la précipitine a été utilisé pour l’identification des prédateurs de 3 lépidoptères nuisibles, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, Heliothis zea (Boddie), et Pseudoplusia includens (Walker). Le test s’est avéré suffisamment sensible pour détecter ces proies dans un extrait global d’un seul individu pour les petits prédateurs, et dans un extrait du mésentère pour les gros prédateurs. Un certain degré de réactivité croisée a quelque peu limité l’applicabilité du test. Cependant les résultats obtenus avec des prédateurs provenant du terrain ont montré que le test de la précipitine est une méthode simple et rapide pouvant être utilisée pour évaluer la fréquence des rencontres entre prédateurs et proies dans les champs de soya.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 113 , Issue 5 , May 1981 , pp. 365 - 369
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1981

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