Efficacy of neem oil (Azadirachta indica) as an antiparasitic treatment for scorpions (Androctonus bicolor) and its impact on venom production

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  By Guy Haimovitch - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=630184 Efficacy of neem oil (Azadirachta indica) as an antiparasitic treatment for scorpions (Androctonus bicolor) and its impact on venom production Abstract Mite infestations are a recurrent welfare issue that significantly affect the health, venom production, and survival of scorpions, particularly under human care. Chemical acaricides such as permethrins and fipronil, widely used in veterinary medicine for mite and tick control, are contraindicated in scorpions. Since mites and scorpions both belong to the class Arachnida, even minimal exposure can result in severe toxicity or death. Neem oil ( Azadirachta indica ) has been widely recognized for its acaricidal, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Its main compound, azadirachtin, interferes with mite development and reproduction, leading to reduced infestations and egg viability. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a 1...

Revision of the South American Ninetinae genus Guaranita (Araneae, Pholcidae)

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Revision of the South American Ninetinae genus Guaranita (Araneae, Pholcidae)

Abstract


The southern South American genus Guaranita includes tiny spiders (body length ~1 mm) that lead reclusive lives under ground-objects and run rapidly when disturbed.  As a  result,  they have been poorly collected and studied.  Here we report on a  recent collection of  Guaranita spiders from  Argentina, describing one new species (G. auadae Huber sp. nov.) and the previously unknown female of G. dobby Torres et al., 2016. In addition, we provide CO1 barcodes for all (now five) known species, first SEM data, and first chromosome data for the genus. The diploid number of GuaranitagoloboffiHuber, 2000 (2n♂ = 11) is among the lowest in araneomorph spiders with monocentric chromosome structure.


Huber, B. A., Meng, G., Král, J., Ávila Herrera, I. M., & Izquierdo, M. A. (2023). Revision of the South American Ninetinae genus Guaranita (Araneae, Pholcidae). European Journal of Taxonomy, 900(1), 32–80. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2023.900.2301