Short-term toxicity of east steppe viper venom for crickets: few results having methodical value

The article shows the definition results of average lethal dose (LD50) of east steppe viper Vipera renardi venom on two species of orthopterous insects: house cricket Acheta domesticus and banana cricket Gryllus assimilis. The seasonal variability of resistance to venom, which decreases in winter, has been revealed at house crickets. Banana crickets don't have the directed seasonal variability of LD50. Also the statistically significant differences of LD50 depended on sex of insects have not been revealed. It is shown that two species of crickets have no species-specifity of reaction on vipers' venom.