The neonicotinoid imidacloprid impairs the predatory performance and functional response of the jumping spider Helpis minitabunda (Araneae, Salticidae)

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  The neonicotinoid imidacloprid impairs the predatory performance and functional response of the jumping spider Helpis minitabunda (Araneae, Salticidae) Abstract The neonicotinoid imidacloprid can cause lethal and sublethal effects in non-target organisms, including impaired behavior, reduced fertility, disrupted locomotion, and reduced predatory performance in arthropods. Spiders are among the most abundant arthropod predators in terrestrial ecosystems, including agricultural ecosystems, yet the effects of neonicotinoids on the predatory function of jumping spiders remain poorly understood. The functional response of a predator describes how predation rates change with prey density and is key to understanding predator–prey dynamics. We tested whether acute exposure to a commercial formulation of imidacloprid at field-recommended concentrations alters the functional response of the Aussie bronze jumping spider, Helpis minitabunda (L. Koch, 1880). We compared the predation of treat...

Scorpion Fauna of Duhok Province, Iraq, with New Records for the Country (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

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Scorpion Fauna of Duhok Province, Iraq, with New Records for the Country (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

Abstract

This study of scorpion fauna was conducted in the Duhok province of northern Iraq, from June to October 2024. In this survey 273 specimens were collected from different districts, representing six species: Androctonus sp., Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880), Orthochirus fomichevi (Kovařík, Yağmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019), Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905), Scorpio kruglovi (Birula, 1910), and Mesobuthus faiki (Yağmur, Kovařík & Fet, 2024). Hottentotta saulcyi was the most abundant species (35.9% of total individuals) followed by Orthochirus fomichevi 29.7%. Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Mesobuthus faiki, Androctonus sp. and Scorpio kruglovi, were less frequent (less than 16 % each). A significant finding was the first-time documentation of Mesobuthus faiki in Duhok province, marking it a new record for Iraq.

Ali, F., & Kachel, H. (2025). Scorpion Fauna of Duhok Province, Iraq, with New Records for the Country (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Commagene Journal of Biology, 9(1), 64-70. https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1651651