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Spider venom: An insecticide whose time has come?

2017; American Chemical Society; Volume: 95; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1021/cen-09511-bus3

2474-7408

Melody Bomgardner,

Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies

When it comes to solving difficult insect problems, it helps to consult an expert. For example, you could ask Hadronyche versuta, the Blue Mountains funnel-web spider. It has a few tried-and-true tools for killing: a funnel-shaped web to hide in, really large fangs, and a venom laced with the powerful insecticide versutoxin. "It has a well-earned, fearsome reputation," says John Sorenson, chief executive officer of the biobased pesticide firm Vestaron. Like seemingly all things super venomous, the spider comes from Australia—specifically, the coastal range of New South Wales. A farmer or gardener could travel to eastern Australia, gather up some Hadronyche, and milk them to obtain their insect-killing venom. But that's not very practical. So for years scientists have been working out how to make a pesticide based on, or inspired by, the spider's powerful weapon. After successful registration with the Environmental Protection Agency in 2014, Vestaron is about to