Researchers show that the adaptation of antlions to their ecological niche has also changed their venom. They compared the venom system of antlion and closely related green lacewing larvae. Antlions produce a much more complex venom from three different venom glands than lacewing larvae do.
All the venom proteins identified come from the insects themselves, not from symbiotic bacteria. Some of the toxins are new and appear to be unique to antlions. Waiting for their victims in pitfall traps in the sand, antlions can use their venom to immobilize larger prey. The venom therefore plays an important ecological role in adapting to their barren habitat.
"We identified a total of 256 venom proteins in the antlion. The complexity of the entire venom apparatus is extraordinary, with three different glands injecting different venoms and digestive enzymes into the prey via the pincers. The antlion's venom is much more complex and effective than that of the aphid lion, in which we were only able to identify 137 proteins from the venom glands.
Andreas Vilcinskas from the University of Giessen, head of the"Bioresources" department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology , continues to keep an eye on the effectiveness and complexity of the antlion venom:"We were able to show that antlion venom is highly effective when injected into insects. However, we don't know which substances are responsible for this toxicity.
Insects (Including Butterflies) Biology Wild Animals Bacteria Microbiology Extreme Survival Biotechnology And Bioengineering
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