A new Cataleptoneta species (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from sulfidic caves in Greece and Albania

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  A new Cataleptoneta species (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from sulfidic caves in Greece and Albania Abstract A new species of the genus Cataleptoneta Denis, 1955, Cataleptoneta sulfur sp. nov ., is described from caves in the Vromoner Canyon (Sarandaporo River Valley), on the Greek–Albanian border (northwestern Greece and southern Albania), on the basis of both sexes. Drawings, scanning electron micrographs, and digital images of diagnostic features are presented. Analysis of COI mitochondrial barcode sequences confirmed the species distinction from all the other sequences. Within the species two separate lineages, unique to each cave were found. The genus Cataleptoneta is not monophyletic as now circumscribed and confirmed also by the phylogenetic analysis of the sequences. Urák I, Ştefan A, Motoc RM, Brad T, Zsigmond A-R, Sarbu SM, Szűts T (2026) A new Cataleptoneta species (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from sulfidic caves in Greece and Albania. ZooKeys 1294: 89-107. https://doi.org/...

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 but not honeybee survival, despite Ht1a inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels from varroa and honeybee with equal potency. Ht1a and Gg1a were inactive against human skeletal muscle (hNaV1.4), cardiac (NaV1.5), neuronal NaV channel isoforms, and human voltage-gated calcium channel CaV2.2. At human α3β2/4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, Gg1a was inactive while 10 µM of Ht1a partially blocked nicotine-mediated Ca2+ influx. Our data reveal Ht1a and Gg1a as promising candidates for the development of novel varroa mite treatments of honeybee hives.

Herzig, V., Guo, S., Eagles, D. A., Pineda, S. S., Robinson, A., Andersson, A., Deuis, J., Dekan, Z., Alewood, P. F., Undheim, E. A., Lammens, M., Bosmans, F., Vetter, I., King, G. F., & Dietemann, V. (2026). Spider venom peptides Ht1a and Gg1a are toxic to honeybee parasite Varroa destructor by topical application. Npj Drug Discovery, 3(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44386-026-00050-9