Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation

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  Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation Abstract Snake venom is a complex and dynamic ecological trait, with high potential for intraspecific variation. In this study, the venom composition of the Iberian adder ( Vipera seoanei ) from the Peneda Mountains of northern Portugal was investigated to explore whether venom varies with body size and sex. Venom proteomes from six individuals representing juvenile, subadult, and adult males and females were characterised using LC–MS/MS, while individual variation was assessed from SDS–PAGE profiles of 18 snakes. LC–MS/MS identified 144 proteins, dominated by phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 ), snake venom serine proteases (svSP), and C-type lectin-related proteins (CTL). Descriptive comparisons revealed contrasting individual profiles, particularly between the juvenile male, characterised by high svSP and svMP abundance, and the juvenile female, characterised by high ...

Thieves and freeloaders: Argyrodine kleptoparasites invading cobwebs (Theridiidae) in the arid south-western USA

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Thieves and freeloaders: Argyrodine kleptoparasites invading cobwebs (Theridiidae) in the arid south-western USA

Abstract

Obligate argyrodine kleptoparasites (Theridiidae, Araneae) exploit heterospecific spider webs for food and shelter. Argyrodine spiders are a model lineage for the study of kleptoparasitism and related strategies, yet data on the behaviour of the majority of the over 250 argyrodine species is lacking. Here, we help fill that knowledge gap by documenting the natural history of two poorly-known species. We studied Argyrodes pluto and Neospintharus baboquivari in the webs of two other cobweb spiders, the western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) and Tidarren sisyphoides, across four sites in southern Arizona. Argyrodes pluto completes its life cycle in L. hesperus webs and specialises on host egg sacs, displacing them to the periphery and feeding on eggs and juveniles; this behaviour appears essential for its reproduction. Neospintharus baboquivari occurs gregariously in both host webs, gleaning small prey. In contrast, N. baboquivari is reportedly a solitary araneophage in the colonial orb webs of Philoponella oweni. We quantified egg sac displacement and describe foraging, mating, egg sac construction and interactions with parasitoids and predators. These findings reveal novel natural history information and expand our understanding of argyrodine behavioural plasticity.

Cowles J, Agnarsson I (2025) Thieves and freeloaders: Argyrodine kleptoparasites invading cobwebs (Theridiidae) in the arid south-western USA. Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e172851. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e172851