Predatory potential of three hunting spiders inhabiting the rice ecosystems

Abstract

Present study was designed to assess the prey preference behaviour of three most dominant hunting spiders [Lycosa terrestris Butt, Anwar and Tahir 2006 (Araneae: Lycosidae), Pardosa birmanica Siman 1884 (Araneae: Lycosidae) and Oxyopes javanus (Thorell 1887) (Araneae: Oxyopidae)] of rice ecosystems both in the laboratory and in the Weld. Two types of laboratory experiments, i.e., choice and no choice feeding, were performed using only adult male and female specimens of the spiders. No choice test showed that each of the three hunting spiders readily consumed larvae and nymphs of rice pests oVered. Female hunting spiders consumed more prey compared to male hunting spiders. Results of choice feeding test indicated that L. terrestris and P. birmanica preferred nymphs of rice insect pests while O. javanus preferred larvae of rice insect pests. Results of direct observations showed that in August, dipterous insects were the most numerous rice pests consumed by L. terrestris, P. birmanica and O. javanus, comprising over 56.3, 38 and 48% of their respective diets. In contrast, in September, the proportion of dipterous insects decreased dramatically and hoppers become the most numerous pests, comprising over 50, 51 and 41% of all prey and spiders consumed by L. terrestris, P. birmanica and O. javanus, respectively. In October, aquatic Heteroptera were frequently observed in their diets. Predatory potential of these hunting spiders diVered statistically in the laboratory as well as in the Weld. It is concluded from the results of present project that studied species of spiders could successfully be used to control insect pests of rice ecosystems.

INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE IN THE GROUND SPIDER, Pardosa sumatrana (THORELL, 1890; ARANEAE: LYCOSIDAE)

“…Live spiders were field‐collected from citrus orchards at Sillanwali, Chak No. 50 and Chak No.107 SB in District Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan, using a suction device (Tahir and Butt, ). The collected spiders were placed in vials containing wet soil (0.5 inch thick) as well as a small piece of honey, soya sauce, and sugar‐soaked cotton at the bottom of the vial to maintain humidity and provide food.…”

“…Apart from mygalomorphs, almost all spiders are generalist predators. They are bio‐control agents of many insect pests of agricultural crops (Tahir and Butt, ). They also act as an environmental stabilizer (Jayakumar and Sankari, ).…”

Arboreal Entomophagous Arthropods of Rice Insect Pests Inhabiting Adaptive Vegetables and Refugia in Freshwater Swamps of South Sumatra

“…The arboreal predatory arthropods species in rice, refugia, and vegetables found in this study were the important predators attacking insect pests of rice. T. javana, T. virescens, and T. mandibulata belong to the spider family of Tetragnathidae and they can prey on the insects pest from Homoptera and Lepidoptera in rice (Tahir & Butt, 2009). Betz & Tscharntke (2017) stated that the Tetragnathidae also preys on Homoptera (leafhoppers).…”

“…P. fuscipes is reported to be a predator of Nilaparvata lugens (Meng et al, 2016), and M. inops is an insect pest of rice generalist predator (Karindah, Yanuwiadi, Sulistyowati, & Green, 2011). O. javanus effectively preys on Hieroglyphus banian, Sogetella furcilera, Marasmia patnalis, and Scripophaga innotata (Tahir & Butt, 2009). T. virescens effectively controls S. furcifera (Prasad, Prabhu, & Balikai, 2010).…”

Feeding habits of lycosid spiders in field habitats

“…In agricultural habitats, generalist predators such as ground beetles and spiders feed on crop pests (Symondson et al 2002;Tahir and Butt 2009;Ö berg et al 2011). Under certain conditions, they have the potential to maintain pest populations below economic thresholds and thus provide an important ecosystem service to the agricultural sector acting as biological control agents (Chiverton 1986;Ö stman et al 2001.…”