Journal of Pest Science (2011) 84, 1-8

K. Franco, J. Aramburu, N. Agustí and C. Castañé (2011)
Egg detection in females of the polyphagous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae) by serological techniques
Journal of Pest Science 84 (1), 1-8
Abstract: Macrolophus pygmaeus is a polyphagous mirid bug native to the Mediterranean area where it is widely used in the biological control of whiteflies and other pests in vegetable crops. To assess the presence of eggs in females is important in order to optimize predator release strategies, as well as their mass rearing. This study shows an alternative to the traditional procedures of fertility assessment based on evaluation of newly hatched nymphs. A polyclonal antiserum was produced against M. pygmaeus egg proteins, and an ELISA protocol was developed to determine whether laboratory-reared or field-collected females contained egg proteins (mainly vitellin). When field-collected females were analysed, an 80% contained egg proteins indicating that they were reproductively active. Presence/absence of egg proteins was detected with an error than 1%. Since this ELISA protocol allowed also the detection of egg protein precursors, it was more precise and less time consuming than conventional techniques as abdomen dissection or egg-hatch evaluation in determining egg presence in females.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nuria Agusti, Cristina Castañe

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
rearing/culturing/mass production
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Macrolophus pygmaeus (predator)