
Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)
Published: March 30, 2023
Abstract Minute insects such as parasitic micro-wasps have high basic and applied importance for their widespread use biocontrol agents. Their dispersal is a phenotype of particular interest. Classically, it evaluated using field releases, but those are time consuming, costly, results highly variable, preventing high-throughput repeatability. Alternatively, can be studied small-scale assays, neglect important higher-scale processes. Consequently, proper evaluation often complicated or lacking in academic studies breeding programs. Here we introduce new method, the double-spiral maze, that allows study spatial propagation groups at relevant scales (several hours meters), retaining throughput experimental power. The method records location every individual time, enabling accurate estimates diffusion coefficients other metrics. We describe this affordable, scalable, easy-to-implement illustrate its application with species agricultural
Language: Английский