Effects of the European hornet (Vespa crabro Linnaeus 1761) crude venom on its own species

Abstract

BackgroundLethal dose 50% is a classical index of toxicity that usually employs small rodents as experimental animals. Therefore, scarce data are available on the effects of venom on invertebrates, particularly the impact of wasp venom on its own species.FindingsIn the present study, the lethality of Vespa crabro venom on its own species was studied. Lethal dose 50% values of crude venom on workers of hornet Vespa crabro were estimated to be 4.0 mg/kg of body weight.ConclusionsWasps can use their venom apparatus effectively when attacking foreign workers that appear in the immediate vicinity of their nest. The toxins released during stinging are potent enough to kill. The result of this study eliminates the popular myth that venomous animals can be resistant to their own venom.

Quantitative and Qualitative Impacts of Selected Arthropod Venoms on the Larval Haemogram of the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…In addition, it was accidentally introduced into Madagascar and China [61,62] and recorded in Mexico [63]. Many studies had been conducted for examining the toxicity of wasp venoms on insects [64][65][66][67]. In Egypt, many studies had been conducted on V. orientalis focusing on ecology, biology, control and its dangerous effect on apiculture [68][69][70].…”

Effects of Colors and Appearance of the Potential Aggressor on Defensive Behavior of Vespa crabro L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Colonies.

“…The main component of this toxin is melittin, one of the most effective detergents that causing red blood cell haemolysis and damage cells of muscles (Banks & Shipolini, 1986;Nabil et al, 1988). The V. crabro venom can be used not only to defend the colony and rarely to attack on other insects in order to acquire food, but it is also an effective tool to combat individuals of hornet from foreign societies (Nadolski, 2013) In conclusion of these results, it is very important that people who are near wasp colonies should have clothes in white or green and hair obscured but when removing whole nests a man have to have a safe outfit properly constructed.…”

Bees and Wasps Venom Toxins, Its Immune-Allergic Responses, Diagnosis and Therapeutics

“…Enzymes phospholipase A1, phospholipase A2, acid phosphatase, hyaluronidase, serine protease and antigen 5 are common venom allergens of hymenopterans [32] (table 1). Many types of enzymes found in the Polistes flavus venom such as hydrolases (proteases, hyaluronidases, phospholipases and nucleotides) all; these enzymes are grouped into hydrolases as well as allergens [33] and toxins [34]. The most abundant proteins identified in parasitoid venom are hydrolases, such as proteases, peptides, esterases, glycosylhydrolase and endonucleases.…”