Venom Mass Fingerprints for Species Delimitation, Reloaded: A Test Case with Italian Scorpions (Euscorpius)

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  Venom Mass Fingerprints for Species Delimitation, Reloaded: A Test Case with Italian Scorpions (Euscorpius) Abstract Scorpion venoms are complex mixtures of bioactive compounds including proteins, peptides and enzymes. Although venoms exhibit substantial intraspecific variation, some compounds appear to be species-specific, highlighting their potential as chemotaxonomic markers. Venom mass fingerprints (MFPs) derived from Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass Spectrometry (MS) have been proposed as a means of delimiting species. However, their utility for species delimitation has rarely been evaluated against independent sources of taxonomic evidence. In the present study, the performance of MALDI-TOF MS-based venom peptide barcoding (mass ranges of m/z 800‒4500 and m/z 3000‒10,000) was assessed in 52 populations of eight Italian species of the scorpion genus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876, representing different levels of evolutionary divergenc...

Diet and hunting behavior of the gray wall jumping spider Menemerus bivittatus (Araneae: Salticidae) in homes in southern Campeche, Mexico

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Diet and hunting behavior of the gray wall jumping spider Menemerus bivittatus (Araneae: Salticidae) in homes in southern Campeche, Mexico

Abstract

This research focused on identifying the prey consumed by the gray wall jumping spider Menemerus bivittatus in homes in southern Campeche state, Mexico, through direct observations of predation events. Between February and June 2026, direct observations of M. bivittatus individuals present on interior and exterior walls of houses were conducted. The capture and consumption of prey, as well as the hunting behavior of the observed individuals, were recorded. The results show that M. bivittatus primarily preyed on houseflies (Musca domestica), which were visually located and captured through precise jumps. The species used the walls of houses as foraging areas, taking advantage of the frequent presence of insects associated with urban environments. The study was based on direct observations, so the actual range of the species' diet may be greater than recorded. Future studies incorporating molecular tools could provide a more detailed characterization of the prey consumed. Menemerus bivittatus acts as an active predator of houseflies in urban environments in Campeche, potentially contributing to the natural control of synanthropic insects associated with human dwellings.

Eligio, M. V., Medina, F. A. L., Camal, M. del C. G., Moreno, P. V., Ramírez, L. J. E., Lazo, E. G., … Castillo, B. B. D. (2026). Diet and hunting behavior of the gray wall jumping spider Menemerus bivittatus (Araneae: Salticidae) in homes in southern Campeche, Mexico. Brazilian Journal of Science, 6(2), 83–89. https://doi.org/10.14295/bjs.v6i2.935