FIELD RETENTION OF A NOVEL MARK-RELEASE-RECAPTURE METHOD

A field cage study was conducted that compared the retention time betw een a novel immunolabeling mark-release-recapture marking technique wi th the more conventional insect marker, fluorescent dust. Commercially purchased convergent lady beetles, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Menev ille, were marked with either a rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) or a chi cken IgG solution. The beetles were then released into separate field cages, recaptured daily, and assayed by both sandwich enzyme-linked im munosorbent assay (ELISA) and direct ELISA for the presence of IgG mar kers. A 3rd group of convergent lady beetles were marked with dust, re leased into a cage, recaptured daily, and examined under a dissecting microscope for the presence of the fluorescent marker. Data indicate t hat IgG markers were retained much longer than fluorescent dust. Addit ionally, the rabbit IgG had a greater retention time than chicken IgG. The advantages of using IgG markers for mark-release-recapture studie s over the current mark-release-recapture techniques are discussed.