Identificação de predadores de Orphulella punctata (de Geer) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) através da serologia

Abstract

Females of Orphulella punctata (de Geer, 1794) were captured in the field and kept in cages with food and boxes filled with moist soil for oviposition. The eggs, macerated with 0,85% saline solution and centrifugated, were used as the immunizing antigen for obtention of the specific antiserum (AS-O). Rabbits were immunized by the linphonodule injection method with two injections of this antigen, with an interval of 15 days between the 1st and 2nd inoculations. Serological tests were performed using double diffusion in agar gel with homologous and heterologous antigens. Specific serological reactions were obtained 14 days after the 1st inoculation. The antiserum of the 30th day gave 5, 2-4 and 1-4 precipitation lines respectively with eggs, female and male antigen. Such differences can be attributed to the high specificity of AS-O. Positive reaction was observed with arachnids and mirmeleontids captured in the field, indicating the predation on O. punctata.