Environmental Entomology (1995) 24, 46-51

Paul C. Johnson and R. Marcel Reeves (1995)
Incorporation of the biological marker rubidium in gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and its transfer to the predator Carabus nemoralis (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Environmental Entomology 24 (1), 46-51
Abstract: Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), adults and fourth instars reared from first instar on diet enriched with 3 g rubidium cloride (RbCl) per liter acquired the rubidium (Rb) tag without affecting their phenology or survival. The tag was retained in fourth instars at significant levels for 5 d after removal from the Rb-enriched diet. Loss of Rb after transfer from Rb-enriched diet to diet without Rb was described by a nonlinear regression model of the log of Rb concentration against days aftex transfer. Adult Carabus nemoralis Müller that consumed Rb-tagged fourth instars acquired the tag. Rb concentration in the beetles was positively correlated with the number of larvae eaten and negatively correlated with the number of days since feeding.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lymantria dispar
Carabus nemoralis (predator)	Lymantria dispar