Marking aphids with rubidium

Abstract
Pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)) were marked with rubidium by rearing them on broad bean plants (Vicia faba L.) maintained in nutrient solutions that contained rubidium chloride. Rb+ was readily detected by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in groups of aphids, and it varied in concentration with the concentration in the plant. A technique was developed for the preparation and analysis of single aphids marked with Rb+. More than 77% of the Rb+ in marked adult aphids was lost within 2 days of leaving the source plant, but detectable quantities remained for 4 days.

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