Data from: Tracking plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) movement in blueberry and peach fields using protein immunomarkers
Data files
Sep 14, 2026 version files 79.57 KB
Abstract
Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), is a cryptic native direct fruit pest. Adults emerge from overwintering sites in wooded areas and disperse into crop fields in the spring. However, their movement patterns within fields after this initial dispersal remain poorly understood. In this study, we used protein markers to investigate the in-field dispersal of C. nenuphar adults in peach (Prunus persica L.) and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) fields. Chicken egg albumin (egg whites) was applied along field borders, and bovine casein (cow’s milk) within field interiors. Adults were collected daily using beat sampling, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to detect egg and/or milk proteins on individual insects. This approach provided a form of behavioral forensics, allowing us to trace each insect’s movement within the field. Results indicated a strong edge effect in both crops, with 64.3% and 78.0% of adults collected along the border in blueberry and peach, respectively. However, adults collected from interior areas were significantly more likely to be marked with both proteins, suggesting they had dispersed inward through the border rows but rarely returned outward. These findings reveal a consistent colonization pattern in both crops, where C. nenuphar populations initially establish along field edges before gradually moving into the interior. This provides a behavioral basis for implementation of border-based management strategies, which could reduce insecticide use through targeted applications while maintaining effective control of C. nenuphar.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.mcvdnckd9
Description of the data and file structure
These data represent a mark-capture protein immunomarking experiment performed in 2019 and 2021. We used two different proteins, bovine casein and egg albumin, to track in-situ movement of Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
Data represent insects collected and tested for presence of bovine casein, egg albumin, or both proteins. The insects were collected in peach or blueberry fields, either on the edge or in the interior of the orchards. Proteins were sprayed on plants, egg for border, and milk for interior. Presence or absence of on or both proteins is used as a method of tracking insect movement in said orchards.
0 = No protein detected. After data transformation using methods outlined in Sivakoff et al. (2011), optical density was not high enough for a positive result.
1= After data transformation (as above) optical density was high enough for a positive result (positive = protein detected in the sample).
Milk: Bovine Casein
Egg: egg albumin
Files and variables
File: PC_Protein_Dataset_Dryad_Final_-ALL_ELISA_DATA_2019-2021-_Egg.csv
Description: All raw collection and optical density data.
Variables
Year: Year the samples were collected
Crop: What cultivar the samples were collected on
Date: Date samples were collected (MM/DD)
Location: Site sample was collected at.
- Edge: Insects collected on the outside edge of the orchard. Edges were sprayed with egg white.
- Interior: Insects collected in the interior of the orchard. Interiors were sprayed with whole milk.
Well: The well # on the plate
Egg/ Milk 450/490: Refers to 450 nm and 490 nm, these ar optical density (OD) data, dual-wavelength data collection to optimize signal accuracy and eliminate background noise.
uj/cuj/zuj: These are abbreviations for uj, Cujᵏ, and Zij, all of which are mathematical functions outlined in Sivakoff et al., 2011, used to determine if the OD of a sample is far enough above the plate mean to count as "positive."
Pos or Neg: "1" = Positive presence of protein as outlined by Sivakoff et al., 2011. "0"= protein concentration too low or not found at all.
Both: Presence or absence of BOTH proteins on a sample.
Egg/Milk/Both Corrected: Same as above, but see below:
A note on "Corrected data." In ELISA studies, it is common practice to "correct" cells that contain protein markers, but which didn't read properly in the plate reader. ie: an insect collected on the edge is counted as having came into contact with egg protein, even if it didn't appear as such on the plate reader. There are several reasons the sample might have read as negative, such as insufficient time spent on the substrate, or touching an area of the plant that didn't receive a full amount of protein treatment. Overall, these are rare in this dataset, but for consistency's sake, we included them here. When undergoing statistical analysis, we "corrected" the data in this way in JMP.
Other codes:
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Negative Control: Cells left blank as a negative control to test for false positives. No protein was included, but the same ELISA procedures were performed.
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Positive Control: Cells contained protein placed there by researchers to act as a check on the ELISA procedure/output.
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NA: Not Applicable
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Empty Cells: Some cells were left blank due to a lack of specimens required to fill all cells.
Code/software
Microsoft Excel, or Google Sheets, anything that can use CSV.
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- NA
Data was derived from the following sources:
- NA