VARIATION IN THE EFFICACY OF SEVERAL PREDATOR GUT CONTENT IMMUNOASSAYS

Five different immunoassay formats were examined for their ability to detect a minute quantity of prey remains in predator guts. The converg ent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, that had cons umed either one or five pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund ers), eggs was evaluated by the following immunoassays: three variatio ns of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a dot blot, and a Wes tern blot. Sandwich ELISA, dot blot, and Western blot were the most se nsitive immunoassays based on the proportion of individual predators s coring positive for prey remains. The direct ELISA and indirect ELISA were ineffective at detecting prey in the predators. The advantages an d disadvantages of each immunoassay format are discussed.