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<p>Understanding the
dispersal ability of invasive insects provides useful insights for developing
effective management strategies. Historically, methods for marking insects for
dispersal studies have been expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive,
especially for woodboring beetles. In addition, capturing or rearing insects
requires human handling, which can alter behavior. Immunomarking is a
well-established technique for studying the dispersal of insects, however, it
has not been broadly applied to woodborers. This study evaluates the potential
for using immunoproteins applied directly to woodborer-infested trees to mark
emerging beetles. <a>Specifically, in the first experiment I
sprayed varying concentrations of ovalbumin (egg white) solution directly onto
logs infested with emerald ash borer (EAB, <i>Agrilus
planipennis </i>Fairmaire) (Buprestidae: Agrilini) and ELISA was used to detect
the presence of protein on emerged beetles. To test the persistence of the
mark, I applied varying concentrations of albumin to freeze-killed beetles,
mounted them on pins, and placed them in an exposed location outdoors. Adult
EAB self-marked as they emerged from protein-treated trees, with higher protein
concentrations persisting for longer on the cuticle when exposed to sun and
rain. </a>This technique offers a convenient, inexpensive and durable means of
marking woodborers and circumvents the need for human handling, allowing for
more natural behavior and more realistic estimates of dispersal. Protein
self-marking may find application in studies of woodborer dispersal within
natural forest environments.<a></a></p>
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| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/9118346 |
| Date | 13 August 2019 |
| Creators | Scott Gula (7046486) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/PROTEIN_SELF-MARKING_BY_EMERALD_ASH_BORER_AN_EVALUATION_OF_EFFICACY_AND_PERSISTENCE/9118346 |
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