Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is the vector of the pathogenic bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the causative agent of Huanglongbing (HLB), the most serious disease of citrus worldwide. Because predatory insects have been historically neglected in biological control programs for D. citri, the impact of generalist predators on D. citri population densities is little understood. A useful tool to evaluate the dynamics of predator-prey interactions is molecular analysis of predators’ gut content. We constructed a specific molecular marker to detect D. citri DNA in the gut content of predator insects, for use in estimating the predation rate of field-collected predators in citrus orchards on D. citri. Bioassays of the DNA half-life detection time were carried out with two predatory species, the ladybird beetle Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville and the lacewing Chrysoperla externa (Hagen). The D. citri DNA half-life detection time (DT₅₀) was 6.11 h for H. convergens and 5.46 h for C. externa. One hundred and seven field-collected predators were used for gut-content analysis (52 larvae/adults of ladybirds and 55 larvae of lacewings). The assays showed that 17.3% of ladybirds but no lacewings tested positive for D. citri DNA. These results show that generalist predators can contribute to biological control of D. citri and should be considered for use in pest management programs in citrus orchards.

中文翻译：

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识别捕食者肠道含量的柠檬黄（半翅目：Li科）DNA的分子标记。

柠檬黄褐藻是病原细菌Candidatus Liberibacter spp。（黄龙病（HLB）的致病因子）的载体，黄龙病是全世界最严重的柑橘病。由于在历史上一直没有将捕食性昆虫忽略于柑橘D. ci的生物控制程序中，所以通才捕食者对柑橘D. citri种群密度的影响鲜为人知。评估捕食者与猎物相互作用动力学的有用工具是对捕食者肠道含量的分子分析。我们构建了一个特定的分子标志物来检测的亚洲柑橘木虱的DNA在捕食昆虫的肠内容，以用于估计现场采集的食肉动物在柑橘园捕食速率上的亚洲柑橘木虱。DNA半衰期检测时间的生物测定是用两种掠食性物种进行的，瓢虫甲虫Hippodamia convergensGuérin -Méneville和草the Chrysoperla externa（Hagen）。的亚洲柑橘木虱的DNA的半衰期检测时间（DT ₅₀）是为6.11ħ H. convergens和5.46ħ C.外耳炎。使用一百零七种在野外采集的捕食者进行肠内容物分析（52只幼虫/成年瓢虫和55只lace幼虫）。分析表明，有17.3％的瓢虫但未发现lace虫对柠檬D. citri DNA呈阳性。这些结果表明，通体捕食者可以促进柠檬果蝇的生物防治。 并应考虑在柑桔园的有害生物管理计划中使用。