Overview

• The redefinition classifies any injected toxin that manipulates a living organism, including insects feeding on plants and species using toxins in courtship, as venom.
• Applying this definition could add over 80,000 species—from sap-sucking insects like aphids and cicadas to garden slugs and snails using love darts—to the roster of venomous animals.
• Researchers aim to streamline studies by categorizing venoms as zootoxic when directed at animals and phytotoxic when aimed at plants.
• The unified framework highlights common molecular mechanisms between traditional venoms and toxic saliva, merging two previously separate research areas.
• The study’s authors plan a multidisciplinary conference to explore applications in drug discovery and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.