Annals of the Entomological Society of America (1998) 91, 415-421

M.H. Greenstone and M.J. Edwards (1998)
DNA hybridization probe for endoparasitism by Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera : Braconidae)
Annals of the Entomological Society of America 91 (4), 415-421
Abstract: We describe a DNA hybridization assay for an insect endoparasitoid. The probe is a digoxigenin-labeled 438 bp fragment from a genomic library of the braconid Microplitis croceipes (Cresson), a larval endoparasitoid of heliothine noctuids. The assay is run on nylon membranes and can detect 125 pg of target DNA. Estimates of parasitization rate in large samples of simultaneously parasitized larvae of the host Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), made by hybridization probe assay of unamplified host homogenates and by dissection, are not statistically distinguishable for 1st or 2nd instar parasitoids. It should be possible to perform the entire procedure, from host collection and DNA extraction to evaluation of assay results, in 1 d, making this prototype technology useful as a monitoring and management tool.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Matthew H. Greenstone

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Glabromicroplitis croceipes (parasitoid)