An order-specific monoclonal antibody to Diptera reveals the impact of alternative prey on spider feeding behavior in a complex food web

James D. Harwood; Mark R. Bostrom; Erin E. Hladilek; David H. Wise; John J. Obrycki

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.02.008

An order-specific monoclonal antibody to Diptera reveals the impact of alternative prey on spider feeding behavior in a complex food web

James D. Harwood, Mark R. Bostrom, Erin E. Hladilek, David H. Wise, John J. Obrycki

Entomology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Generalist predators have the capacity to restrict pest population growth, especially early in the season before densities increase. However, their polyphagous feeding habits sometimes translate into reduced pest consumption when they target alternative prey. An order-specific monoclonal antibody was developed to examine the strength of trophic connections between Diptera, a major category of non-pest prey, and linyphiid spiders in alfalfa. We report the development and characterization of a monoclonal antibody with order-level specificity to Diptera. This antibody elicited strong absorbance to 22 Diptera from 13 families, no false-positive reactivity to non-dipteran invertebrates, and antigen detection periods following prey consumption that were comparable between spiders. Over 900 field-collected females of the linyphiid spiders Erigone autumnalis and Bathyphantes pallidus were screened for Diptera antigen. Significantly more B. pallidus screened positive for Diptera (40%) compared to E. autumnalis (16%), indicating differential reliance on these prey. In parallel with the collection of spiders for gut-content analysis, prey availability was estimated at web sites. The two spiders exhibited different feeding responses to prey availability. Consumption of Diptera by B. pallidus was strongly correlated with Diptera abundance whilst the availability of other potential prey did not influence predation rates. Conversely, E. autumnalis did not prey upon Diptera in proportion to availability, but increased Collembola activity-density reduced dipteran consumption. Integration of molecular gut-content analysis with precise sampling of prey demonstrated how two closely related linyphiid spiders exhibit different feeding responses to the availability of prey under natural field conditions. Elucidating the feeding preferences of natural enemies is critical to effective incorporation of biological control by generalist predators in the management of agricultural pests.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	397-407
Number of pages	11
Journal	Biological Control
Volume	41
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.02.008
State	Published - Jun 2007

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
J.D.H. and J.J.O. are supported by the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station State Project KY099004. The authors thank Shelby Stamper (University of Kentucky), Jane Todd (The Ohio State University), Jon Lundgren (USDA-ARS), April Stehr (USDA-ARS), Elaine Backus (USDA-ARS) and the many colleagues who kindly supplied organisms for cross-reactivity testing. We also thank two anonymous reviewers and the Editor of Biological Control for valuable comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. The hybridomas and monoclonal antibody used in this research, developed by JDH in collaboration with Charles Lovig, were obtained from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Hybridoma Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. This is publication number 06-08-143 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. The experiments reported here comply with the current laws of the United States of America.

Funding

J.D.H. and J.J.O. are supported by the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station State Project KY099004. The authors thank Shelby Stamper (University of Kentucky), Jane Todd (The Ohio State University), Jon Lundgren (USDA-ARS), April Stehr (USDA-ARS), Elaine Backus (USDA-ARS) and the many colleagues who kindly supplied organisms for cross-reactivity testing. We also thank two anonymous reviewers and the Editor of Biological Control for valuable comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. The hybridomas and monoclonal antibody used in this research, developed by JDH in collaboration with Charles Lovig, were obtained from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Hybridoma Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. This is publication number 06-08-143 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. The experiments reported here comply with the current laws of the United States of America.

Funders	Funder number
Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station	KY099004

Keywords

Alternative prey
Araneae
Biological control
Diptera
ELISA
Generalist predators
Gut-content analysis
Linyphiidae
Predator-prey interactions
Prey choice

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Agronomy and Crop Science
Insect Science

Access to Document

10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.02.008

Cite this

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title = "An order-specific monoclonal antibody to Diptera reveals the impact of alternative prey on spider feeding behavior in a complex food web",

abstract = "Generalist predators have the capacity to restrict pest population growth, especially early in the season before densities increase. However, their polyphagous feeding habits sometimes translate into reduced pest consumption when they target alternative prey. An order-specific monoclonal antibody was developed to examine the strength of trophic connections between Diptera, a major category of non-pest prey, and linyphiid spiders in alfalfa. We report the development and characterization of a monoclonal antibody with order-level specificity to Diptera. This antibody elicited strong absorbance to 22 Diptera from 13 families, no false-positive reactivity to non-dipteran invertebrates, and antigen detection periods following prey consumption that were comparable between spiders. Over 900 field-collected females of the linyphiid spiders Erigone autumnalis and Bathyphantes pallidus were screened for Diptera antigen. Significantly more B. pallidus screened positive for Diptera (40%) compared to E. autumnalis (16%), indicating differential reliance on these prey. In parallel with the collection of spiders for gut-content analysis, prey availability was estimated at web sites. The two spiders exhibited different feeding responses to prey availability. Consumption of Diptera by B. pallidus was strongly correlated with Diptera abundance whilst the availability of other potential prey did not influence predation rates. Conversely, E. autumnalis did not prey upon Diptera in proportion to availability, but increased Collembola activity-density reduced dipteran consumption. Integration of molecular gut-content analysis with precise sampling of prey demonstrated how two closely related linyphiid spiders exhibit different feeding responses to the availability of prey under natural field conditions. Elucidating the feeding preferences of natural enemies is critical to effective incorporation of biological control by generalist predators in the management of agricultural pests.",

keywords = "Alternative prey, Araneae, Biological control, Diptera, ELISA, Generalist predators, Gut-content analysis, Linyphiidae, Predator-prey interactions, Prey choice",

author = "Harwood, {James D.} and Bostrom, {Mark R.} and Hladilek, {Erin E.} and Wise, {David H.} and Obrycki, {John J.}",

note = "Funding Information: J.D.H. and J.J.O. are supported by the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station State Project KY099004. The authors thank Shelby Stamper (University of Kentucky), Jane Todd (The Ohio State University), Jon Lundgren (USDA-ARS), April Stehr (USDA-ARS), Elaine Backus (USDA-ARS) and the many colleagues who kindly supplied organisms for cross-reactivity testing. We also thank two anonymous reviewers and the Editor of Biological Control for valuable comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. The hybridomas and monoclonal antibody used in this research, developed by JDH in collaboration with Charles Lovig, were obtained from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Hybridoma Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. This is publication number 06-08-143 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. The experiments reported here comply with the current laws of the United States of America. ",

year = "2007",

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doi = "10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.02.008",

language = "English",

volume = "41",

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AU - Harwood, James D.

AU - Bostrom, Mark R.

AU - Hladilek, Erin E.

AU - Wise, David H.

AU - Obrycki, John J.

N1 - Funding Information: J.D.H. and J.J.O. are supported by the University of Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station State Project KY099004. The authors thank Shelby Stamper (University of Kentucky), Jane Todd (The Ohio State University), Jon Lundgren (USDA-ARS), April Stehr (USDA-ARS), Elaine Backus (USDA-ARS) and the many colleagues who kindly supplied organisms for cross-reactivity testing. We also thank two anonymous reviewers and the Editor of Biological Control for valuable comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. The hybridomas and monoclonal antibody used in this research, developed by JDH in collaboration with Charles Lovig, were obtained from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Hybridoma Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. This is publication number 06-08-143 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. The experiments reported here comply with the current laws of the United States of America.

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N2 - Generalist predators have the capacity to restrict pest population growth, especially early in the season before densities increase. However, their polyphagous feeding habits sometimes translate into reduced pest consumption when they target alternative prey. An order-specific monoclonal antibody was developed to examine the strength of trophic connections between Diptera, a major category of non-pest prey, and linyphiid spiders in alfalfa. We report the development and characterization of a monoclonal antibody with order-level specificity to Diptera. This antibody elicited strong absorbance to 22 Diptera from 13 families, no false-positive reactivity to non-dipteran invertebrates, and antigen detection periods following prey consumption that were comparable between spiders. Over 900 field-collected females of the linyphiid spiders Erigone autumnalis and Bathyphantes pallidus were screened for Diptera antigen. Significantly more B. pallidus screened positive for Diptera (40%) compared to E. autumnalis (16%), indicating differential reliance on these prey. In parallel with the collection of spiders for gut-content analysis, prey availability was estimated at web sites. The two spiders exhibited different feeding responses to prey availability. Consumption of Diptera by B. pallidus was strongly correlated with Diptera abundance whilst the availability of other potential prey did not influence predation rates. Conversely, E. autumnalis did not prey upon Diptera in proportion to availability, but increased Collembola activity-density reduced dipteran consumption. Integration of molecular gut-content analysis with precise sampling of prey demonstrated how two closely related linyphiid spiders exhibit different feeding responses to the availability of prey under natural field conditions. Elucidating the feeding preferences of natural enemies is critical to effective incorporation of biological control by generalist predators in the management of agricultural pests.

AB - Generalist predators have the capacity to restrict pest population growth, especially early in the season before densities increase. However, their polyphagous feeding habits sometimes translate into reduced pest consumption when they target alternative prey. An order-specific monoclonal antibody was developed to examine the strength of trophic connections between Diptera, a major category of non-pest prey, and linyphiid spiders in alfalfa. We report the development and characterization of a monoclonal antibody with order-level specificity to Diptera. This antibody elicited strong absorbance to 22 Diptera from 13 families, no false-positive reactivity to non-dipteran invertebrates, and antigen detection periods following prey consumption that were comparable between spiders. Over 900 field-collected females of the linyphiid spiders Erigone autumnalis and Bathyphantes pallidus were screened for Diptera antigen. Significantly more B. pallidus screened positive for Diptera (40%) compared to E. autumnalis (16%), indicating differential reliance on these prey. In parallel with the collection of spiders for gut-content analysis, prey availability was estimated at web sites. The two spiders exhibited different feeding responses to prey availability. Consumption of Diptera by B. pallidus was strongly correlated with Diptera abundance whilst the availability of other potential prey did not influence predation rates. Conversely, E. autumnalis did not prey upon Diptera in proportion to availability, but increased Collembola activity-density reduced dipteran consumption. Integration of molecular gut-content analysis with precise sampling of prey demonstrated how two closely related linyphiid spiders exhibit different feeding responses to the availability of prey under natural field conditions. Elucidating the feeding preferences of natural enemies is critical to effective incorporation of biological control by generalist predators in the management of agricultural pests.

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KW - Araneae

KW - Biological control

KW - Diptera

KW - ELISA

KW - Generalist predators

KW - Gut-content analysis

KW - Linyphiidae

KW - Predator-prey interactions

KW - Prey choice

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An order-specific monoclonal antibody to Diptera reveals the impact of alternative prey on spider feeding behavior in a complex food web

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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