Insectes Sociaux

, Volume 57, Issue 2, pp 147–155 | Cite as

Utilizing rabbit immunoglobulin G protein for mark-capture studies on the desert subterranean termite, Heterotermes aureus (Snyder)

  • Paul B. Baker
  • James R. Hagler
  • Ruben Marchosky
  • Scott A. Machtley
  • Jessica M. Brown
  • Michael A. Riehle
  • David E. Bellamy
Research Article
First Online:
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Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

Mark-capture dispersal studies were conducted to investigate the feasibility of marking the southwestern desert subterranean termite, Heterotermes aureus (Snyder) with rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG). In turn, short-range dispersal patterns of H. aureus were measured across a 20-m diameter desert landscape at three distinct field locations. Each location consisted of 51 termite feeding stations containing corrugated cardboard. The central feeding station (CFS) at each location was impregnated with rabbit IgG. A circular grid was then constructed around each CFS that consisted of 50 additional unmarked cardboard feeding stations strategically placed around the CFS at distances of 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, 7.0 or 10.0 m. Termites self-marked with rabbit IgG by feeding on the marked bait. The CFS and the 50 peripheral feeding stations were sampled for marked termites twice at each location 17–65 days after the marked bait was placed at the CFS to determine the spatial dispersal patterns of H. aureus within each research grid. Termites that self marked by feeding on rabbit IgG marked bait were detected by an anti-rabbit IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Generally, the CFSs contained the highest frequency of marked termites with 28.0% of the individuals assayed from the CFSs containing rabbit IgG. Over the course of the study, 39 of the unmarked peripheral feeding stations contained at least one marked termite. Of the termites assayed from the peripheral stations (n = 2,955), 124 or 4.2% of the individuals contained the mark. The average distance traveled by the marked termites collected at the peripheral feeding stations was 5.7 ± 3.3 m from the CFSs. We also examined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from termites collected at each field site. Data indicated that each field site were genetically distinct and therefore non-related termites. We discuss the advantages and limitations of marking termites with rabbit IgG for dispersal studies.

Keywords

Protein marking ELISA Dispersal Rabbit IgG 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dan Langhorst, Chrissie Pflipsen, Erik Stone, Heather Terry, Alex Yelich and Hao Yu for excellent technical support. The manuscript was improved by comments from Dawn Gouge (The University of Arizona), Michael Haverty (University of California Berkeley and University of Arizona), and anonymous reviewers. This work was funded, in part, by BASF.

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Copyright information

© Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel/Switzerland 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Paul B. Baker
    • 1
  • James R. Hagler
    • 2
  • Ruben Marchosky
    • 1
  • Scott A. Machtley
    • 2
  • Jessica M. Brown
    • 1
  • Michael A. Riehle
    • 1
  • David E. Bellamy
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of EntomologyUniversity of ArizonaTucsonUSA
  2. 2.USDA-ARS, Arid Land Agricultural Research CenterMaricopaUSA
  3. 3.ED&A ConsultingBuckleyUSA

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