Spider venom peptides Ht1a and Gg1a are toxic to honeybee parasite Varroa destructor by topical application

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  Spider venom peptides Ht1a and Gg1a are toxic to honeybee parasite Varroa destructor by topical application Abstract Global food supply strongly depends on honeybee pollination services, which are threatened by insecticides and pests such as parasitic Varroa destructor mites. Chemical varroacides/acaricides are hampered by resistance development, necessitating the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives, with arthropod venom peptides being considered promising sources of acaricidal toxins. With only a few acaricidal venom peptides being reported, we performed a systematic topical screening of 50 arthropod venoms against V. destructor , with 78% of the venoms causing 100% mortality after 24 h. Deconvolution of the venoms from the Tasmanian cave spider Hickmania troglodytes and the Giant Japanese funnel-web spider Gigathele gigas led to identification of the varroacidal peptides Ht1a and Gg1a. Topical application of Ht1a and Gg1a reduced varroa mite ...

Web Structure and Silk Spinning Apparatus Morphology of the Spider Maimuna vestita (Araneae: Agelenidae)

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Web Structure and Silk Spinning Apparatus Morphology of the Spider Maimuna vestita (Araneae: Agelenidae)

Abstract

Spiders are organisms characterized by their webs. The method of silk spinning generally determines the shape of the web, which is species-specific. The shape of the web has evolved over time to be the most advantageous for the species in its natural environment. The web’s design reflects evolutionary inheritance specific to the species. Webs are designed with high elasticity and low recoil in order to capture prey effectively. In this study, the web structure and the morphology of the spinning apparatus of Maimuna vestita were examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Detailed images of the adhesive droplets on the silk of M. vestita were obtained. It was found that the distribution of adhesive droplets and silk fibrils varies in different parts of the web. Spider silk is a unique material known for its durability and flexibility, with different properties that vary between species. In M. vestita, the spatial arrangement of adhesive droplets in the web threads is influenced by both species-specific characteristics and ecological factors and offers potential applications in various scientific fields.

Yigit, Nazife & Öcal, İlkay & Akdeniz, Kader. (2025). Web Structure and Silk Spinning Apparatus Morphology of the Spider Maimuna vestita (Araneae: Agelenidae). Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology. 13. 3525-3528. 10.24925/turjaf.v13is2.3525-3528.8107.