Lydia J. Borjon, PhD

Assistant Scientist at Indiana University. Neurobiologist studying sensory systems in insects.

[Lydia J. Borjon, PhD @lydiaborjon]

Our paper on Velvet Ant venom is out at Current Biology! “Multiple mechanisms of action for an extremely painful venom” https://t.co/ddThZxhCNy

Velvet ants are among the most painful of all stinging insects. What makes them so painful? We used fruit fly larvae to find out 🧐 1/5

[Dan Tracey @Hoosierflyman]

Nice coverage of our work by @physorg_com !https://t.co/DblhREUYll

[Dan Tracey @Hoosierflyman]

Another nice news article from @newscientist! https://t.co/BGUxw1Xtnh

[Dan Tracey @Hoosierflyman]

Nice news coverage of our work! Velvet ants have the Swiss Army knife of venoms https://t.co/8Aqjgsk8QJ

[Lydia J. Borjon, PhD @lydiaborjon]

@Hoosierflyman Instead, defense against insects seems to be a more important. We tested if a velvet ant could defend itself against a formidable praying mantis. In multiple battles, the praying mantis tried to eat the velvet ant, but the velvet ant always managed to sting and escape. 5/5

[Lydia J. Borjon, PhD @lydiaborjon]

Our paper on Velvet Ant venom is out at Current Biology! “Multiple mechanisms of action for an extremely painful venom” https://t.co/ddThZxhCNy

Velvet ants are among the most painful of all stinging insects. What makes them so painful? We used fruit fly larvae to find out 🧐 1/5

[Lydia J. Borjon, PhD @lydiaborjon]

@Hoosierflyman But then! Surprise! The peptide was not painful at all to mice! Other peptides, which are much weaker in larvae, caused pain in mice. Although we expected the simplest solution, that the pain-causing mechanism would be the same in mammals and insects, this was not the case. 4/5