Let ants find them: Using ants as eDNA samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternfly
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a valuable tool for detecting invasive species, yet its application in terrestrial ecosystems remains challenging due to uneven eDNA distribution. Ants, which forage and consume carbohydrate-rich honeydew from sap-feeding insects, may serve as effective “biolo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2025-04-01
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| Series: | NeoBiota |
| Online Access: | https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/151420/download/pdf/ |
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| author | Wei-Jiun Lin Fang-Ling Chloe Liu Lucie Cho Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang |
| author_facet | Wei-Jiun Lin Fang-Ling Chloe Liu Lucie Cho Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang |
| author_sort | Wei-Jiun Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a valuable tool for detecting invasive species, yet its application in terrestrial ecosystems remains challenging due to uneven eDNA distribution. Ants, which forage and consume carbohydrate-rich honeydew from sap-feeding insects, may serve as effective “biological samplers” for invasive species detection. In this study, we evaluated whether ants could facilitate eDNA-based detection of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF), given this invasive species is well known for excreting honeydew containing detectable DNA. Worker ants were collected from SLF-infested and non-infested sites and analysed using endpoint PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR, TaqMan assay) to detect SLF DNA. Both assays successfully detected SLF DNA in 60–100% of ant samples from infested sites, while no SLF DNA was found in ants from non-infested locations. Compared to non-ant insects, ants exhibited higher SLF DNA concentrations, suggesting that honeydew ingestion serves as the primary eDNA source. These findings demonstrate that ants can function as efficient SLF eDNA samplers, providing a scalable and cost-effective alternative to existing SLF detection methods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-69f5f44f80ce4d8c9237017d1b74d3ab |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1314-2488 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeoBiota |
| spelling | doaj-art-69f5f44f80ce4d8c9237017d1b74d3ab2025-08-20T02:19:16ZengPensoft PublishersNeoBiota1314-24882025-04-019826126710.3897/neobiota.98.151420151420Let ants find them: Using ants as eDNA samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternflyWei-Jiun Lin0Fang-Ling Chloe Liu1Lucie Cho2Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang3Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a valuable tool for detecting invasive species, yet its application in terrestrial ecosystems remains challenging due to uneven eDNA distribution. Ants, which forage and consume carbohydrate-rich honeydew from sap-feeding insects, may serve as effective “biological samplers” for invasive species detection. In this study, we evaluated whether ants could facilitate eDNA-based detection of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF), given this invasive species is well known for excreting honeydew containing detectable DNA. Worker ants were collected from SLF-infested and non-infested sites and analysed using endpoint PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR, TaqMan assay) to detect SLF DNA. Both assays successfully detected SLF DNA in 60–100% of ant samples from infested sites, while no SLF DNA was found in ants from non-infested locations. Compared to non-ant insects, ants exhibited higher SLF DNA concentrations, suggesting that honeydew ingestion serves as the primary eDNA source. These findings demonstrate that ants can function as efficient SLF eDNA samplers, providing a scalable and cost-effective alternative to existing SLF detection methods.https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/151420/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Wei-Jiun Lin Fang-Ling Chloe Liu Lucie Cho Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang Let ants find them: Using ants as eDNA samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternfly NeoBiota |
| title | Let ants find them: Using ants as eDNA samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternfly |
| title_full | Let ants find them: Using ants as eDNA samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternfly |
| title_fullStr | Let ants find them: Using ants as eDNA samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternfly |
| title_full_unstemmed | Let ants find them: Using ants as eDNA samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternfly |
| title_short | Let ants find them: Using ants as eDNA samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternfly |
| title_sort | let ants find them using ants as edna samplers for detecting the invasive spotted lanternfly |
| url | https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/151420/download/pdf/ |
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