USDA-ARS Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center 3 articles published in JoVE Environment Methodology for Developing Life Tables for Sessile Insects in the Field Using the Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, in Cotton As a Model System Steven E. Naranjo1, Peter C. Ellsworth2 1USDA-ARS, Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, 2Department of Entomology, Maricopa Agricultural Center, University of Arizona Life tables allow quantification of the sources and rates of mortality in insect populations and contribute to understanding, predicting and manipulating population dynamics in agroecosystems. Methods for conducting and analyzing cohort-based life tables in the field for an insect with sessile immature life stages are presented. Biology Transient Expression and Cellular Localization of Recombinant Proteins in Cultured Insect Cells Jeffrey A. Fabrick1, J. Joe Hull1 1U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Nonlytic insect cell expression systems are underutilized for production, cellular trafficking/localization, and recombinant protein functional analysis. Here, we describe methods to generate expression vectors and subsequent transient protein expression in commercially available lepidopteran cell lines. The co-localization of Bemisia tabaci aquaporins with subcellular fluorescent marker proteins is also presented. Environment Administering and Detecting Protein Marks on Arthropods for Dispersal Research James R. Hagler1, Scott A. Machtley1 1USDA-ARS, Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center Proteins are often used to mark arthropods for dispersal research. Methods for administering internal and external protein marks on arthropods are demonstrated. Protein mark detection techniques, either through indirect or sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), are also illustrated.