An Egg-Specific Monoclonal Antibody to Lygus hesperus

A species- and stage-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) for a Lygus hesperus Knight egg antigen was developed. Positive antigen-antibody reactions were associated only with L. hesperus eggs and adult females. There was no cross-reactivity with any of the other L. hesperus life stages nor with any stage of L. lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois). Furthermore, this MAb did not cross-react with the eggs of 10 other insect species examined. Electrophoretic and Western blot analyses indicated that the egg antigen had four polypeptides that bound to this MAb with molecular weights estimated at 64,000,123,250,140,300, and 150,300 Da. The use of this MAb as a diagnostic probe for gut content analysis of potential natural predators of L. hesperus eggs is discussed. (C) 1991 Academic Press, Inc.