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...

Mitogenomic Insights on the Phylogeny and Evolution of Lynx Spiders (Araneae, Oxyopidae)

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Mitogenomic Insights on the Phylogeny and Evolution of Lynx Spiders (Araneae, Oxyopidae)

ABSTRACT

Lynx spiders (Oxyopidae Thorell, 1869) have high diversity and widespread distribution (nine genera and 447 species currently described worldwide). They are important predators of many arthropod pests in agriculture and forestry. Although the taxonomy of lynx spiders has received attention, there is a lack of studies on their phylogeny, as well as the evolution of important ecological traits. Herein, we inferred the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of lynx spiders using mitochondrial genomes, analyzed the characteristics of their mitogenomes, and tested the evolutionary pattern of maternal egg-guarding (EG) behaviors of lynx spiders. Our results suggest that the genera Oxyopes Latreille, 1804, Hamataliwa Keyserling, 1887, Hamadruas Deeleman-Reinhold, 2009, and Peucetia Thorell, 1869 are all the monophyletic groups, but Tapponia Simon, 1885 is not. Their phylogenetic relationships are shown as (Peucetia, (Oxyopes, (Hamadruas, (Tapponia, Hamataliwa)))). The family Oxyopidae is probably originated around 73.5 million years ago (Ma; 67.1–80.4 Ma) during the Late Cretaceous. We found only one gene arrangement pattern in the mitogenomes of Oxyopidae. Within the 13 protein-coding genes, only the COX1 gene change is positively affected by natural selection. The ancestral state reconstructions inferred the evolutionary process of three EG behaviors of lynx spiders. This study has advanced our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among lynx spiders and their mitogenomic evolution, as well as the likely evolutionary pattern of oxyopid maternal EG behaviors.

Fu, D., Liu, L., Wu, C., & Luo, Y. (2025). Mitogenomic Insights on the Phylogeny and Evolution of Lynx Spiders (Araneae, Oxyopidae). Ecology and Evolution, 15(9), e72192. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72192