Predation on Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): an Instar-Specific Elisa Assay for Stomach Analysis

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Abstract
Quantitative data on arthropod predation are difficult to obtain because of the secretiveness and feeding modes of predators and because of the antigenic similarities of closely related prey species and of different stages and instars of the same prey species. A monoclonal antibody (MAB) to the arylphorin of Heliothis zea (Boddie) distinguishes remains of fifth instars in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of fed predator extracts from the remains of all other instars and eggs of this and related species. This demonstrates the feasibility of using MAB-based ELISA in life table and other long-term quantitative predation studies. Improvements in our ELISA protocol double the rate at which assays can be performed without compromising sensitivity or specificity. This is the first reported MAB-based ELISA for arthropod predator stomach analysis and the first to achieve instar-specificity.