Development of a monoclonal antibody to detect predation of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stal)

A monoclonal antibody (McAb), 4B8, was developed to whole homogenates of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stal), using hybridoma technology. It reacted with all the stages of BPH but did not cross-react with other insects and predator species tested with an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunodiffusion revealed it to belong to the IgG(3) subclass. The ascites developed with 4B8 cell lines had high absorbance values until it was diluted over 6.5536x10(7) times tested by indirect ELISA. It could recognize the BPH proteins after one female was ingested by Pardosa pseudoannulata for about 2.13 days at 25degreesC. The results of extended antigen detection period and the high specificity of the antibody indicated that 4B8 could be used to study interactions between planthoppers and their predators in the field. Application of the McAb to assess relative importance of four major spider species in subtropical rice ecosystem showed that P. pseudoannulata was more important than Ummeliata insecticeps, and those were more important than Tetragnatha sp. and Coleosoma octomaculatum.