PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 46: Predator - Prey Ecology: Communities and Environmental Impacts
Tuesday, August 9, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Meeting Room 519 B, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Using molecular gut analysis to identify key predators of Homalodisca coagulata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a new invasive herbivore in California.
Fournier, Valerie *,1, 2, Hagler, James2, Daane, Kent1, De Leon, Jesse3, Groves, Russell4, Akey, David2, 1 University of California, Berkeley, CA2 USDA-ARS, Phoenix, AZ3 USDA-ARS, Weslaco, TX4 USDA-ARS, Parlier, CA
ABSTRACT- The recent invasion of Southern California by the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca coagulata (Say) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), has triggered an enormous effort to control the vector of Pierce's Disease in grapevines. Long-term, effective control of GWSS will include the exploitation of its natural enemies. Currently, very little information is available on GWSS's predaceous arthropod complex. In this study, our approach is to use molecular techniques of predator gut content analysis, such as ELISA and PCR assays, to qualitatively investigate in-field predation of the various life stages of the GWSS. We developed GWSS-specific primers to amplify fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) and GWSS-egg protein specific monoclonal antibodies. We conducted laboratory tests to determine how long GWSS antigen and DNA could remain detectable in guts of various predator species. We collected several thousands of predators from field sites harboring important populations of GWSS. We are currently assaying these predators for GWSS remains. So far, we have found that spiders belonging to the families Clubionidae and Agelenidae, as well as praying mantis (Mantodea: Mantidae) contain GWSS remains in their guts. This study will provide information needed to implement effective conservation biological control programs for GWSS.
Key words: predator-prey interactions, leafhopper, biological control, gut content analysis