Potential Use of Venom of Odontobuthus odonturus (Arachnida: Buthidae) as Bio-pesticide Against Rhopalosiphum erysimi (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Abstract.-Present study was designed to test the effectiveness of different concentrations of crude venom of Odontobuthus odonturus Pocock, 1897 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) against Rhopalosiphum erysimi (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Scorpions were collected from Sargodha district of Punjab (Pakistan) using portable ultra-violet (UV) lamps. The venom of the scorpions was collected in 1.5 ml plastic collection tubes and frozen at -20ºC. The bioassay tests were performed against 0.5, 0.75 and 1 dose of scorpion venom in the laboratory. The percent mortality after 12 h was 68.3, 71.65 and 83.3 against 0.5, 0.75 and 1 µl concentrations, respectively. The mortality was significantly higher in the treated groups compared to the control. The LT 50 and LT 95 values were decreased as the venom concentrations were increased. The calculated LD 50 and LD 95 values for R. erysimi were 0.44 µl and 1.31 µl, respectively. It is concluded that venom of O. odonturus contains toxins which could be used as potential bio-pesticide candidates