Ovophis tonkinensis envenoming presenting with severe isolated thrombocytopenia and local necrosis: A case report

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  Image Credit: iNaturalist (c) randall_f –  some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) Ovophis tonkinensis envenoming presenting with severe isolated thrombocytopenia and local necrosis: A case report Abstract Pit viper envenoming commonly causes venom-induced consumption coagulopathy with hypofibrinogenaemia. However, isolated thrombocytopenia without fibrinogen depletion is less recognised and may alter transfusion strategy. We report a confirmed  Ovophis tonkinensis  bite from northern Vietnam presenting with severe isolated thrombocytopenia and local necrosis. The case highlights the importance of serial platelet monitoring, awareness of fibrinogen availability and appropriate timing of antivenom and platelet support in resource-limited tropical settings. Duc ND, Hong Anh LN, Hong Khanh LN, Bach ND. Ovophis tonkinensis envenoming presenting with severe isolated thrombocytopenia and local necrosis: A case report. Tropical Doctor . 2026;0(0). doi: 10.1177/00494755261435153

A taste for ants: potential obligate myrmecophagy in Lasaeola (Araneae: Theridiidae)

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A taste for ants: potential obligate myrmecophagy in Lasaeola (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Abstract

Ant predation (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by the genus Lasaeola Simon, 1881 is a behaviour sporadically reported in the scientific literature and frequently observed in images uploaded to various online platforms. While these scattered observations confirm the existence of this predator-prey interaction, a systematic analysis of these observations has never been undertaken. Here, we present the first formal analysis and compilation of documented cases of myrmecophagy in Lasaeola, providing evidence that obligate ant predation is a likely foraging strategy for this genus.

A taste for ants: potential obligate myrmecophagy in Lasaeola (Araneae: Theridiidae), 
Dentici A & Bianco VFL (2025), Eine Vorliebe für Ameisen: Potentielle obligate Myrmekophagie durch die Gattung Lasaeola (Araneae: Theridiidae), Heft 70, 24-28 10.30963/aramit7005