INCORPORATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL MARKER RUBIDIUM IN GYPSY-MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA, LYMANTRIIDAE) AND ITS TRANSFER TO THE PREDATOR CARABUS-NEMORALIS (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE)

Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), adults and fourth instars reared from first instar on diet enriched with 3 g rubidium cloride (RbCl) per liter acquired the rubidium (Rb) tag without affecting their phenology or survival. The tag was retained in fourth instars at significant levels for 5 d after removal from the Rb-enriched diet. Loss of Rb after transfer from Rb-enriched diet to diet without Rb was described by a nonlinear regression model of the log of Rb concentration against days after transfer. Adult Carabus nemoralis Muller that consumed Rb-tagged fourth instars acquired the tag. Rb concentration in the beetles was positively correlated with the number of larvae eaten and negatively correlated with the number of days since feeding.