Antimicrobial
Guides
Blattella vaga
Field Cockroach
Blattella vaga, the field cockroach, is a small outdoor-dwelling cockroach in the family Ectobiidae. First described from Arizona and California in 1935, it has since been recorded across North America and introduced to parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia. It resembles the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) but is not a significant indoor pest, typically entering buildings only during hot or dry conditions. The species harbors bacterial gut symbionts with demonstrated antimicrobial properties.
Chihuahuanus
Chihuahuanus is a genus of scorpions in the family Vaejovidae, established in 2013 and endemic to northern Mexico. The genus comprises medium-sized scorpions that are not considered medically important to humans. Two described species, C. coahuilae and C. crassimanus, have been characterized for venom composition, revealing toxic fractions with lethal effects in mammals and insects and antimicrobial activity against bacterial pathogens.
Pseudosphinx tetrio
tetrio sphinx, giant gray sphinx, frangipani hornworm, plumeria caterpillar, Rasta caterpillar
Pseudosphinx tetrio is a sphinx moth (Sphingidae) native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Its larvae are specialized herbivores of Apocynaceae plants, particularly Allamanda cathartica and Plumeria species. The species exhibits a distinctive chemical ecology strategy: larvae selectively excrete plant-derived compounds rather than sequestering or metabolizing them, enabling them to feed on toxic host plants rich in latex. The caterpillars display aposematic coloration—velvety black with yellow rings and orange-red head and legs—advertising their unpalatability to predators.