In vitro evaluation of venom extracts of Sphecid wasps against phytopathogens of horticultural crops and mass spectrometric profiling of venom peptide components

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  In vitro evaluation of venom extracts of Sphecid wasps against phytopathogens of horticultural crops and mass spectrometric profiling of venom peptide components Abstract As the shortcomings of synthetic chemicals become gradually evident, the dynamics of pest and disease management in modern agriculture are progressively shifting towards environmentally safer alternatives. Biopesticides, such as peptide-based approaches offer attractive alternatives, although their potential remains yet to be fully explored. In this exploratory study, crude venom extracts from previously unexplored Hymenopteran sphecid wasps ( Chalybion bengalense , Sceliphron madraspatanum , Ammophila atriceps and Sphex argentatus ) were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against selected plant pathogens. The venom extracts demonstrated prominent antibacterial activity lacking antifungal activity. Among the wasps, C . bengalense exhibited the most significant antibacterial activity against Gram-negati...

The genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Oman

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The genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Oman

Abstract


The taxonomic position of Androctonus populations in Oman was investigated by analyzing morphological variation in a comprehensive sample representing 150 records gathered from 95 localities spread throughout the country. Two new allopatric species are described, separated by multivariate morphometric analysis and meristic characters: (1) A. omanensis sp. n., distributed across most of Oman, is characterized by wider, deeper metasomal segments IV–V, shorter legs, more robust pedipalps, more granules on lateral inframedian carinae of metasoma II–III, and sparser setation on basitarsal spurs; and (2) A. ammophilus sp. n., distributed in the dunes of the Rub’ al-Khali (Empty Quarter) of northwest Oman, and adjacent Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, is characterized by narrower, shallower metasomal segments IV–V, longer legs, more elongate pedipalps, fewer granules on lateral inframedian carinae of metasoma II–III, and denser setation on basitarsal spurs. The emergence of the Rub’ al-Khali sand system during Pleistocene glaciations, and the transition to hyper-arid conditions in the region, are hypothesized to be abiotic factors promoting ecological speciation of A. ammophilus sp. n., and vicariant speciation of A. omanensis sp. n.

Lowe, G. 2025 . The genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Oman. Euscorpius, No. 424: 1-59. https://mds.marshall.edu/euscorpius/vol2025/iss424/1/