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...

A new species of tiny arboreal tarantula of the genus Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) from the State of Bahia, Brazil

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A new species of tiny arboreal tarantula of the genus Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) from the State of Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850 comprises five species of tiny arboreal theraphosids found exclusively in Brazil. Some species have a colored, eye-catching pattern which make them an object of desire to the pet market, and two species were included in the Red Book of Threatened Brazilian Fauna by the Brazilian government. Typhochlaena was recovered as the sister group of the remaining aviculariines in phylogenetic analyses, as the genus retains several plesiomorphies and represents a distinct and old divergent clade. Therefore, it is important to obtain information about their species concerning distribution, habits and biology to aid in protecting their populations and species. Herein, we describe Typhochlaena chapadensis sp. nov., from the Brazilian State of Bahia, in the Chapada Diamantina region. The new species is closely related with T. curumim Bertani, 2012 but can be distinguished by the shape of the male palpal bulb, color pattern and geographic distribution.

Bertani, R., Antunes, V.S. & Gallão, J.E. (2025) A new species of tiny arboreal tarantula of the genus Typhochlaena C. L. Koch, 1850 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) from the State of Bahia, Brazil. Zootaxa, 5660 (1), 102–110. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5660.1.6