Two new arthropod toxins purified from the venom of the Mexican scorpion Centruroides nigrescens

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  Two new arthropod toxins purified from the venom of the Mexican scorpion Centruroides nigrescens Abstract The venom of the slender black scorpion Centruroides nigrescens , from the State of Guerrero México, was fractionated by Sephadex G–50 gel filtration, followed by carboxymethyl cellulose ion separation and high–performance liquid chromatography, permitting to obtain two new peptides toxic to arthropods. The estimate LD 50 of the soluble venom for the insect Acheta domesticus was 11.1 μg/g body weight, and for the arthropod Armadillidium vulgare was 61.1 μg body weight . The amino acid sequence of toxin Cnige1 (toxic to A. domesticus and A. vulgare ) contains 65 amino acids, with a molecular mass of 7273.37 mass units, whereas toxin Cnige2, toxic to A. domesticus , contains 68 amino acids, with a molecular mass of 7548.81 units. Both peptides are well packed, containing 8 cysteines, which in the native venoms are forming 4 disulfide bridges each. The amino acid sequences f...

Intraguild predation by two species of Hottentotta (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Pakistan

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Intraguild predation by two species of Hottentotta (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Pakistan



Abstract


Intraguild predation constitute an important ecological interaction in many ecosystems. We report two cases of intraguild predation involving scorpion as predator of centipede and assassin bug (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) during a nocturnal search for scorpions in Pakistan. In first case, Hottentotta jalalabadensis scorpion was found on rocks feeding a scolopendromorph centipede. On second, H. alticola individual was found with an assassin bug in their pedipalps and chelicerae also on rocks. In both cases when disturbed, the scorpion tries to flee to rock crevices without releasing its prey. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of intraguild interactions involving Pakistani scorpions. Depredación intragremial por dos especies de Hottentotta (Scorpiones: Buthidae) en Pakistán 


Resumen

La depredación intragremial constituye una importante interacción ecológica en muchos ecosistemas. Se reportan dos casos de depredación dentro de un gremio que involucran a escorpiones como depredadores de ciempiés y chinches asesinas (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) durante una búsqueda nocturna de escorpiones en Pakistán. En el primer caso, el escorpión Hottentotta jalalabadensis fue encontrado en las rocas alimentándose de un ciempiés escolopendromorfo. En segundo lugar, se encontró un individuo de H. alticola con una chinche asesina en sus pedipalpos y quelíceros, también en rocas. En ambos casos, cuando se sintió molestado, el escorpión intentó huir hacia las grietas de las rocas, sin soltar a su presa. Hasta donde sabemos, este es el primer informe de interacciones entre gremios que involucran escorpiones pakistaníes.


Muhammad Jawad, Sahibzada & Lira, André & De, Felipe & Lira², Araujo & Muhammad, & Sobia, Zahid¹ & Khan¹, Khalid. (2023). Intraguild predation by two species of Hottentotta (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Pakistan. ResearchGate