Insect Venom of Social Hymenoptera

Abstract

The venoms of the social Hymenoptera evolved to be used as defensive tools to protect the colonies of these insects from the attacks of predators. Generally they do not cause lethal effects but cause mainly inflammatory and/or immunological reactions in the victims of their stings. However, sometimes it is also possible to observe the occurrence of systemic effects like respiratory and/or kidney failure. Meanwhile, the venoms of solitary Hymenoptera evolved mainly to cause paralysis of the preys in order to permit egg laying on/within the prey’s body; thus, some components of these venoms cause permanent/ transient paralysis in the preys, while other components seem to act preventing infections of the food and future progenies. In addition to these pe­ptides, the Hymenopteran venoms also may contain a few neurotoxins that target Na⁺ and/or Ca⁺² channels or even the nicotinic ACh receptor.