Abstract
The venom of two dominant species of wolf spiders, Pardosa sumatrana Thorell and Pardosa birmanica Simon, was extracted and characterized. Insecticidal potential of crude venom and selected peptide fractions (i.e. 35-kDa fraction of both spiders) was evaluated in the laboratory using Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) (Homoptera: Aphididae) as a model pest. Results of the study showed that both the crude venom and the protein fractions caused significantly higher mortality in treated aphids compared to the control. It is concluded that both the crude venom and the protein fractions possess insecticidal potential.
Highlights
The venom of two dominant species of wolf spiders, Pardosa sumatrana Thorell and Pardosa birmanica Simon, was extracted and characterized
About 10 million biologically active peptides are predicted in spider venom (Saez et al, 2010), but only 800 are fully characterized, including 136 insect-selective peptides (Vetter et al, 2011)
The protein fractions of spider venom could be a safer alternative to chemical pesticides (Leng et al, 2011)
Summary
The venom of two dominant species of wolf spiders, Pardosa sumatrana Thorell and Pardosa birmanica Simon, was extracted and characterized. Their venoms contain salts, small organic molecules, peptides, and proteins (Schroeder et al, 2008). The protein fractions of spider venom could be a safer alternative to chemical pesticides (Leng et al, 2011). The venom of two wolf spiders, Pardosa sumatrana (Thorell, 1890) and Pardosa birmanica Simon, 1884, was partially characterized in the laboratory and insecticidal potential was evaluated using Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) (aphid) as a model pest.
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